Those He Loves

Good Morning!

Hebrews 12:4-11 (New Century Version)
4 You are struggling against sin, but your struggles have not yet caused you to be killed. 5 You have forgotten the encouraging words that call you his children:
"My child, don't think the Lord's discipline is worth nothing,
and don't stop trying when he corrects you.
6 The Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as his child." — Proverbs 3:11–12
7 So hold on through your sufferings, because they are like a father's discipline. God is treating you as children. All children are disciplined by their fathers. 8 If you are never disciplined (and every child must be disciplined), you are not true children.9 We have all had fathers here on earth who disciplined us, and we respected them. So it is even more important that we accept discipline from the Father of our spirits so we will have life.10 Our fathers on earth disciplined us for a short time in the way they thought was best. But God disciplines us to help us, so we can become holy as he is. 11 We do not enjoy being disciplined. It is painful at the time, but later, after we have learned from it, we have peace, because we start living in the right way.

No one likes to be told they are wrong. I know I don’t. But part of the process of being a disciple of Jesus Christ is facing the reality that we are still subject to sins – meaning, adopting attitudes that lead to actions that are contrary to what God would have us do. As Paul writes in his letter to the Romans, we know better but we choose to not do better – we understand what is right, we understand what is wrong but we choose to do wrong over right.

When I was a young child, Mom employed a lady named Lucille. Lucille, in the eyes of a five year old, was much taller than Mom’s five foot two frame - probably five seven but remember my eyes were five. Anyway, Mother gave Lucille full authority over Bruce and Claire and me. That means Lucille could – and often had to – apply corporal punishment. I cannot tell you how many times I had to go pick my switch – and it better be a good one – but I am sure you can guess. No… not every day but pretty often.

Lucille didn’t punish us because she didn’t like us. She punished us because we were doing wrong – and she knew that if we continued to do wrong, we would face even more stiff punishment in the future. In short, Lucille gave us a switching because she loved us. And I mean that – Lucille came to love us three rascals. I can still see her beautiful face in my mind – dark skin with jet black eyes – caring for us as we grew up.

The writer of Hebrews points out this same fact to us concerning the nature of God. He disciplines us because He loves us and wants us to develop into a people He can be proud of. He disciplines us so that we can learn to respect Him. But everything He does is for our benefit – so that we grow in His grace.

I was thinking how the media has adopted a phrase that they apply whenever Christians point out sin – hate speech. How often do we see that label attached when Christians object to activities that God clearly calls sin – and the populace wants to continue in the sin? From my perch, I think the worst “hate speech” comes when Christians are silent. For, you see, we are called to be salt and light in a dark world. If we say nothing – if we turn our heads and wink at sin – we are not reflecting the love of Christ. Jesus died so that mankind could be reconciled to God. Jesus loves all – even those who are in sin. And we should love them too. So if we love them, we will speak up.

Have a blessed day.


Agape’

Mr. Jim

I had a beautiful email from one of my readers concerning yesterday’s Good Morning. Her husband is headed to Afghanistan to work – the only job he could get. Join me in praying for her (she asked not to be named) and her husband. Pray for his safety and for the time when they will be reunited.