No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. v11

Speaking on discipline, the author of Hebrews wants us to view our circumstances in light of how we have a Heavenly Father that disciplines just as we all had an earthly father that did the same (v4-11).  We should view hardship as discipline (v7) and training and other circumstances as well as discipline and training.  If God has great plans for us, then He should be equipping us for those plans as well should He not?

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

Proverbs 3

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. v11-12

I have had difficulties in my life and nearly all of the time I don't think of the difficult times as training, or that God is refining me by removing sin or impurities.  Accepting discipline or punishment as training or refining can only be done by renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2) because it is not an earthly way (Isaiah 55:8).

For seeing discipline as training, see also Psalm 119:71, Hebrews 12:5-6, Revelation 3:19. 

For more on the refiner's fire, see also here.

My Prayer: Lord, You are without a doubt, an awesome God - full of love, mercy, compassion, etc.  I know I am deserving of the many, many second chances You give me.  Thank You Jesus!  Please forgive me for not being the man You intend for me, for my anger and impatience, which continues to rage on.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.   Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.

Proverbs 29

A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother. v15

Discipline often conveys a harshness that it should not.  A dictionary definition includes the following: 

1:  punishment 

2 obsolete:  instruction

3:  a field of study 

4:  training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character

5a:  control gained by enforcing obedience or order; b :  orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior; c :  self-control 

6:  a rule or system of rules governing conduct or activity

This same definition also provides the following: 

Discipline comes from discipulus, the Latin word for pupil, which also provided the source of the word disciple (albeit by way of a Late Latin sense-shift to “a follower of Jesus Christ in his lifetime”). Given that several meanings of discipline deal with study, governing one’s behavior, and instruction, one might assume that the word’s first meaning in English had to do with education. In fact, the earliest known use of discipline appears to be punishment-related; it first was used in the 13th century to refer to chastisement of a religious nature, such as self-flagellation.

Given the Latin roots of the word "discipline", and given the Latin roots (Greek) of the Bible, in my view, the author (Solomon) intended that discipline be a positive thing regardless of whether used in the context of punishment or instruction/training because punishment is meant to instruct and train (assuming it is not harsh). 

All of this aside - we should be looking for ways to train our children.  For the key is to have a relationship that enables such training.

Pastor Scott at our church uses Ephesians 6:4 as support for this point:

Fathers,do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God - You have molded me into more of who You are and I am thankful for how You have transformed my heart and my life.  You have made me more patient (although not as patient as You want me to be I am sure), more compassionate, etc. I know You are not done with me but I am thankful for YOUR patience with me!  Please forgive me for my harshness with others.  I don't like it when I am. Help me turn from such sin towards You and help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and have them choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians.My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.

Jeremiah 24

Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians.My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. v5-7

 
The Lord reveals to Jeremiah that those exiled to Babylonia should remain hopeful - that their affliction and punishment is for their own good and of course God's glory.  These people - as is the case with us - need further refinement as part of God's plan to use us for His glory.

See also punishment as training, discipline as training, and the refiner's fire.

"My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Hebrews 12:5-6

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and Your discipline and punishment has produced fruit - thank You Jesus that You love me such that You desire to refine me versus throw me away.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worthy of such love and grace.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Please help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

"My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

Hebrews 12

"My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” v5-6

Whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, it is instructive to understand what God is saying to us and what He is doing FOR us because as Solomon above writes in Proverbs (as quoted above by the author of Hebrews) whatever hardship we may be experiencing should be viewed as discipline and training from the Lord.

It continues in Hebrews:

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. v7-11

My Prayer: Lord You are a great God worthy of my worship and my full attention and focus on You.  You created the heavens and the earth and You created me and came to earth to suffer and die for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and such gifts - I am broken, selfish, arrogant, prideful, etc.  Please forgive me for my sin and help me overcome and turn from such towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help grow in my faith.  Help me endure hardship as discipline.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.

Revelation 3

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. v19

Whatever our circumstances we should be thankful (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and see our circumstances as discipline, training and as preparation for what God wants for us as part of His plan.

See also:
- Prov 3:11-12 (NIV) My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
- Prov 15:5 (NIV) A fool spurns his father's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.

This link also provides a great number of excellent examples on this topic.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, capable of all things and full of mercy, compassion and patience for me...despite knowing everything about me including my sin!  Thank You Jesus!  What a great God!  I am not worth such a God and the many blessings You pour out on me.  I am NOT in action as You desire for me...You say "make every effort" but I fail to do this!  Please forgive me and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me "make every effort" and help me see Your rebuke and discipline as coaching and training for my good and Your glory!  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Surely these things happened to Judah according to the Lord’s command, in order to remove them from his presence because of the sins of Manasseh and all he had done, including the shedding of innocent blood. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the Lord was not willing to forgive.

2 Kings 24

Surely these things happened to Judah according to the Lord’s command, in order to remove them from his presence because of the sins of Manasseh and all he had done, including the shedding of innocent blood. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the Lord was not willing to forgive. v3-4

As I posted last Friday, God's patience is not unlimited.  However, his justice is perfect.

In today's verses we see further demonstration of God's perfect justice. Coffman's Commentary provides further insight which quotes from Jeremiah:


Jeremiah 15:1 explains why this was true. "It was because the measure of their sins was full, and in justice God had no choice except to punish them. Even if the greatest intercessors such as Moses and Samuel had come before the Lord (pleading for Judah), it would have done no good."

While God does punish us, just as parents would hope for their children, we should see God's punishment as for the glory of God and good for us.  See also this post and posts on viewing discipline as training.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God whose love for us never stops even when You discipline us.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love as I worry and I am harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to Jesus and for them to choose Him as their Lord and Savior.  Provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one.’ I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’; and they will say, ‘You are my God.’”

Hosea 1-3 

I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called ‘Not my loved one.’ I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’; and they will say, ‘You are my God.’” Hosea 2:23

  

Day 167 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with a study of Hosea, a prophet whom God calls to marry a promiscuous woman (Gomer), as this experience is used as an analogy for how Israel sought foreign gods rather than God (Hosea 1:2). Gomer gives birth to three children and the names given to these children - Jezreel or God sows, Lo-Ruhamah or not loved, and Lo-Ammi or not my people - all reflect God's plans for Israel as foreign invaders will overcome Israel.  John MacArthur indicates that for the time being Judah is spared (Hosea 1:7) as God intervenes "on behalf of Hezekiah"(see 2 Kings 19) - this will be covered in more detail in the coming days as my study of Hosea is split across three days.

God's words to prepare Hosea include sharing God's anger with Israel, as well as his plans for forgiveness and acceptance following repentance.

Several key takeaways this morning:
- We must acknowledge where life and our blessings come from - we cannot exist without God. (Hosea 2:8); Israel stopped doing this and drifted away from God. 
- Just as God disciplines Israel, we should view discipline as training.
- Forgiveness awaits those who repent.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has demonstrated unbelievable mercy, compassion, forgiveness and acceptance for me!  Thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving of such love.  I sin...worry and more.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I will turn my hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities. I will restore your leaders as in days of old, your rulers as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.

Isaiah 1-5

I will turn my hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities. I will restore your leaders as in days of old, your rulers as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City. Isaiah 1:25-26

  

Day 173 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) starts my study of Isaiah, whom my commentary* refers to "the greatest evangelistic prophet ever known to God’s people begins an active ministry which will last some 40 years".  My commentary goes on the write: "Isaiah will do for Judah what Joel, Hosea, and Amos have done for Israel: he will tell the people about God’s judgment against religious formalism, idolatry, oppression, immorality, and pride, and also warn them of the captivity they are about to face. Throughout his prophecies Isaiah repeatedly refers to the final day of the Lord, when all people will face judgment like that being brought against Israel and Judah. The imagery is exciting and visionary. Isaiah also looks forward to the coming of the Messiah and Savior, who will redeem all mankind from their sins. For this reason, much of what Isaiah has to say will be as meaningful to future generations as it is to those who live in Judah at this time. Isaiah’s message begins with a condemnation of Judah’s many sins. He insists that Judah’s sins will bring severe punishment, from which neither Judah’s idols nor its leaders can save the people. He challenges the people to come to their senses before it is too late, and to look forward to the last days, when there will be a spiritual renewal and everlasting peace."

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) . Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

This morning Isaiah delivers God's message to Judah regarding God's judgment of Judah's sin, and the focus is on empty worship and faith (Isaiah 1), and the sins of injustice (Isaiah 1 and Isaiah 5), idolatry (Isaiah 2), pride (Isaiah 2), sin of its leaders who led Judah into sin (Isaiah 3), sin of its women (Isaiah 3), greed (Isaiah 5), revelry (Isaiah 5), arrogance (Isaiah 5), rationalization (Isaiah 5), and drunkenness (Isaiah). My reading this morning includes reminders of God's grace - that He disciplines those He loves, we should view discipline as training to become more like Him, and that forgiveness and restoration await should we repent.

See also this great post about the danger of rationalizing sin as this is an important reminder of how we allow sin to creep into our lives slowly and it soon takes over.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is slow to anger, abounding in love, and full of grace and mercy for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  My sin continues....daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored

Proverbs 13

Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored. v18

Punishment and discipline are often difficult to take - yet we must accept the consequences of our sin and understand that God is ALWAYS molding us by removing impurities.

Because God is all knowing, He is perfectly fair.

He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity. Psalm 9:8

We should not fear discipline or punishment - God does not stop loving us. In fact, He disciplines us BECAUSE He loves us.

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Proverbs 3:11-12

 

"My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Hebrews 12:5-6

 

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Revelation 3:19

 We must also understand that God's word often reveals our heart condition as God's word is flawless (Proverbs 30:5), and it serves to both rebuke and train us on our journey to be transformed (Romans 12:2) and be more like Him.

 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

My Prayer: What a great God You are!  I am so blessed to have a God who is so patient with me and whose discipline and punishment is with and from love.  Thank You Jesus!  I know You love me yet I also I am undeserving of such love.  I am lazy and harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin..and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord, the one you teach from your law.

Psalm 94

Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord, the one you teach from your law. v12

This is often a difficult message - that we should consider all discipline as training, and that God is removing our impurities and making us more like Him.


Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

See also posts here.

My Prayer: Lord, Your righteousness reigns as perfect justice for those who love You and for those who reject You.  You know our heart and everything we do - nothing is concealed.  You are full of compassion and mercy and You often provide mercy when we don't deserve it.  I have experienced Your mercy myself - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such mercy as I continue to worry and be harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me and help me turn from such sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day. 

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.

Proverbs 22

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away. v15

Tuesday, I posted about fatherhood and parenting and once again this is our topic today.  As a parent we are train our children, most importantly in the ways of the Lord.  Part of this training includes discipline:

Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them. Proverbs 13:24

 

Discipline is something that all of us must experience, even as adults.  God continues to mold us and we experience discipline, hardship, punishment, etc. as part of God's refining process.

Yet you, Lord, are our Father.  We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of love, compassion, patience, etc. for me - Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am not worthy of such love.  I am broken and I continue to sin.  Please forgive me for my lack of patience for others.  Help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You alone as their Lord and Savior.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

I continue my study of Hebrews, and this morning my focus is Hebrews 12:1-11, and and I am assisted in my understanding by the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary Series for Hebrews. The commentary outlines two divisions for this text: 

I. Run the Race (12:1-3): Here, the commentary shares how author of Hebrews uses an athletic metaphor as a means to encourage us to keep striving in our faith - keep running. We are encouraged to keep running because God sustains us.  The commentary describes how in v2 it states how God is the "founder and perfecter of our faith" (ESV), and we can look to Jesus to help carry us through to the end of the race.

II. The Father’s Discipline (12:4-11): Here, the commentary shares how author of Hebrews compares an earthly father's discipline to that of how God disciplines us and how both are done out of love for us - first by our earthly father, then by our Heavenly Father. We must be prepared at any time for discipline.  The commentary wraps by sharing that "Christians question how God can work for good through horrifying loss. Yet God was working for our good in the gruesome death of his Son. If ever we doubt God’s love because of our circumstances, we can look to the cross and remind ourselves that God gave us his own Son so that we might in turn become sons of God."

Keep running, have faith and look to Christ for encouragement, discipline, training as means to run the race to the end.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for never leaving or forsaking me as I continue to run the race of faith.  Thank You for the inspiration, encouragement, and discipline/training along the way.  There have been periods of challenge for sure - but I see how You have been part of all of it for my good and Your glory.  I am undeserving of how You have blessed me during my race.  My sin is great and it continues..daily. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.

Daniel 9

The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him. v14

We may not like what God is doing in our life but just as Daniel states, God is righteous in all that He does and I would go one step further that He is perfect in all that He does.

Daniel prays to end the suffering of Israel who is in exile and pleads with God for mercy (v19).

The angel Gabriel once again appears to Daniel providing further prophecy of the end times.  See also this post from John Piper on this topic.

We must view God’s discipline as training.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who disciplines me out of love – thank You Jesus.  I know You love me.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love but You provide it anyway.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my love towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.

Proverbs 13

Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them. v24

I often fret whether I am a good father.  Am I too strict or not strict enough.  Am I encouraging or not? God's word provides truth and light for me:

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth. Deuteronomy 11:18-21

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4

Most important for me as a parent is to walk with the Lord and I hope and pray that I am pleasing to the Lord - there is always more I can do.  I must then talk about God and train my family in His Word and to serve Him - I know there is more I can do.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God - You are the way, the truth, and the life.  It is my hope and prayer that I can become more like You and to please You.  I know I exist to serve and glorify You.  Thank You for being my God and for being so full of mercy, grace, and patience for me.  I am undeserving!  Please forgive me for my laziness, my harshness with others, etc. Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength. Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I will discipline you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.

Jeremiah 30

I will discipline you but only in due measure;

I will not let you go entirely unpunished. v11

Just as Israel and Judah are to be restored, the Lord tells Jeremiah to pass on a message to his children that although they are to be restored, their sin will not go unpunished. 

I am of course not unlike, the Israelites.  I sin and I sin often.  I fall short.  I must understand that sin does not go unpunished.  I must also understand that if I turn from my sin and ask God for His forgiveness, He will forgive.  My response to God's gift of forgiveness should be to respect this freedom and act as if it is free but it is also expected that I must mature on my own and that patience has its limits:

Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,  instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.  Hebrews 6:1

God expects that His discipline to work!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your training and discipline I know comes from love.  Your love for me is beyond what I deserve and I am deeply thankful and amazed that You love me so much.  Forgive me for my laziness and lack of courage.  Help me be the man You intend for me.  Help me so that Your desires are my desires.  Help me so that I can live a live of faith and action - to serve You and to allow Your plan and Your love to shine through me.

The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small—and for destroying those who destroy the earth.

Revelation 11

The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small—and for destroying those who destroy the earth. v18

Earlier in Revelation, Jesus speaks to the "seven churches" and He is passing judgment on them.  As the end of times continues in Revelation 11, a milestone is reached in the verse above which sums up how judgment will come...we are to be rewarded but also judged.  Yet another reminder that I need to get to work, "make every effort" and live with the end in mind.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed great in all ways, Your designs, works, motives, etc.  You desire ONLY good for me...even when You discipline me You are doing so for my own good...and of course Your glory.  Thank You Jesus for Your training, love, compassion, mercy, patience, etc.  I am not worth such love and blessing Jesus as I worry too much about my job and other matters.  Please forgive me!  Help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day.

Psalm 7

God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day. v11

Many people, including myself, have viewed God's wrath as a bad thing.  Yet God's wrath also leads to justice and training.  When we view wrath in terms of the positive outcomes it can achieve, we better appreciate the perfection and goodness of God.  Everything God does is good and perfect.  I know for myself that God has been disappointed and angry with my sin, and so he has either allowed me to experience the consequences of my sin, or he has disciplined/tested me with difficult circumstances.  Either way, God's discipline and wrath has resulted in a purification and training process for me - all good.

The prophet Zechariah speaks to God's refiner's fire and how it produces a more pure child of God, one that is closer to God's image:

On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity....This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, They are my people,and they will say, The Lord is our God.  Zechariah13:1, 9

Circling back to Psalm 7:11, we should look DAILY for how God's wrath (pruning) is producing fruit (see also John 15) in our lives.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God, abounding in love for me...even though I am certain I am not deserving.  Thank You Jesus!  I am easily distracted by worldly matters.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from and overcome my sin.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects of chemo and radiation.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin, and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me every day.

It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.

Psalm 119

It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. v71

Pain, suffering, and hurt is always difficult, but it is during these times when we can see the goodness of God.  For me, God has used these times to purify me of my sin, to discipline, and to train me so that I can become more like Him.

My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Hebrews 12:5-6

 

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4

 

 See also posts here and here.

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus what an amazing God!  I deserve death, yet You are compassionate and patient with me, sparing me and instead training me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and compassion.  Please forgive me and help me turn from such sin and turn towards You instead.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death.

Proverbs 19

Discipline your children, for in that there is hope;    do not be a willing party to their death.  v18

As  Zach and I start up BSF again this Monday, I was thinking I would miss BSF due to school work.  But the above verse calls me back.  Similarly, the below verse does the same.

Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who blesses beyond reason and You have certainly done this for me with Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  I continue to lust after other women and also remain prideful.  I thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me for this sin and help me more like You and help me focus on training Zach and Dustin in the ways of the Lord.