|
Written by Ann Wilson
|
|
"Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." Heb. 12:11
Have you ever been disciplined by the Lord? Was it a painful jolt? Sometimes the Holy Spirit convicts and chastens us through our conscience when our words or actions are wrong. There comes a healthy guilt which drives us to repentance. Peace is then restored.
For some of us, there is a more painful way to receive discipline. Occasionally we may be spoken to by someone else about our shortcomings. We may rise to our own defense, make excuses, feel hurt or pass blame, but when we go to the Lord desiring only His will, He shows us the truth about ourselves.
This is never a pleasant experience. We feel embarrassed about our fault, about not seeing it earlier before someone else had to point it out. We are even more horrified when we repeat the same fault again. Why can't we learn the first time?
Humility sets in as we see ourselves next to God's holiness. Then He lifts us up and says, "For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?" Heb.12:6-7. We feel God's love stronger than before. A blockage is removed between us and God.
We cannot change ourselves. We must recognize and confess our faults and then be absolutely dependent upon and surrendered to our Father God, believing in His incredible love for us, and believing that He lets nothing touch us except what is good for our perfecting and purifying. Our purpose on earth is to bring pleasure to God by letting Him conform us to the image of Jesus, thus becoming a testimony, a "letter" to others, telling of His love for them, too.
|
Discipline
