Today's Word for Friday November 5, 2010
BITTERNESS
DEFINITION
Hard to bear; disagreeable; resentment; hostility.
SCRIPTURE
The heart knows its own bitterness, and a stranger does not share its joy. Proverbs 14:10
For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity. Acts 8:23.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Ephesians 4:31
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
Some years ago a famous boxer was convicted of murder and sent to jail for life. The boxer maintained his innocence and some 19 years later his verdict was overturned. When released he was asked if he was bitter? He responded that he was sure anyone would be bitter and certainly he was. But he went on to say that he learned in prison that bitterness only consumes the life that contains it. And for a person to permit bitterness to control his or her life would be allowing those that imprisoned him to take even more from him than they had already taken.
Bitterness is like a cancer. It eats away at us and keeps us from enjoying God's blessings. The writer of Hebrews deals with the problem of bitterness in Hebrews 12:15, "Looking carefully ... lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled." Some of the Christians that the author of Hebrews was writing to were considering returning to Judaism because of the persecution and injustice they were facing. The author tells them that like a small root that grows into a big tree, bitterness could spring up in their hearts and overshadow their deepest Christian principles and relationships.
When we are mistreated by others and have disappointments in our life it is so easy to let bitterness come into our lives and this is what God does not want to happen to us. Jesus can heal our concerns and disappointments that cause bitterness and we need to put them in His hands.
Not only does the writer of Hebrews in verse 15 challenge us to avoid bitterness but in the prior verse, verse 14, he reminds us to pursue peace with all people. This from his point of view is a radical, but healing alternative to allowing ourselves to become bitter to people.
In the verse we have written above from Acts, Paul was talking about Simon who had practiced sorcery claiming he was someone great. But Simon listened to the preaching of Philip and came to know Jesus and was baptized. As the account goes on, we are told about Simon meeting Peter and John and seeing that when they placed their hands on the believers they received the Holy Spirit. Simon asked if he could buy the same power. Then Peter spoke the words in the verse above to Simon, telling him he was poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity and therefore he could not have any share in their ministry because his heart was not right.
As Christians we need to learn not to be bitter about "things" that come and go in our lives. We need to learn to turn the disappointments and concerns over to the Lord as they come our way. Do not let them fester and grow in our minds allowing bitterness to control us. When we have bitterness in our heart our heart is not right with the Lord.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:31 (above) to get rid of all bitterness. Bitterness brings us grief personally but, more importantly, Paul says it grieves the Holy Spirit of God. (Ephesians 4:30)
As the Proverb (above) says, our heart knows our own bitterness and a stranger does not share its joy. Bitterness and joy are emotions felt in our heart. A stranger cannot feel our bitterness as we feel it. However, people can look at us and know if we have bitterness or joy within us. If people see that we are bitter, we are not a testimony of the joy that comes from being a believer, and this grieves the Holy Spirit of God.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 15:9.
"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love."
PRAYER
Help me to be a shining light to all that I see today. May my family join me in eliminating bitterness from our lives. When we have concerns and disappointments that could easily cause bitterness, help us to put those concerns and disappointments into Your hands.
November 7, 2010
Adoption: November 4, 2010
Today's Word for Thursday November 4, 2010
ADOPTION
DEFINITION
Take or receive as one's own; to take and rear another's child as one's own.
SCRIPTURE
Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. Ephesians 1:5.
To redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Galatians 4:5.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
In ancient Rome, adoption was occasionally used by the emperors to pass on succession to competent heirs. For example, Augustus Caesar was adopted by his great uncle Julius Caesar. Other notable adoptees included the emperors Tiberius and Hadrian. All of them proved to be strong rulers because each one was raised and trained to live like a child of his adoptive father under Roman law. Adopted children had all the rights and privileges of the biological children.
Every Christian is an adopted child of the King of kings. Our adoption comes at a great cost. God brought us into His family through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus on the cross and when we asked Him for forgiveness for our sins and accepted Him as our Savior. Although we are adopted children, God has made us joint heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:17)
We should feel great indebtedness to Him for all that He has done for us. There is no way to repay Him. In return for our being adopted into God's family, God wants us to live in a way that a child of God is expected to live. In Colossians 3:5 we are told by Paul what we are to get rid of in our lives when we have been adopted by God. He tells us to, "Put to death the sinful ways of our old life; sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed and idolatry."
These are to be replaced by activities and desires that show that we belong to the family of God. Paul then tells us in Colossians 3:12 to "Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness and longsuffering." Can others that you meet daily see that you are an adopted child of God? They should by the way you walk and talk. We show that we are children of God when we honor God, call Him our Father and walk as His child.
In the book of Romans, Paul writes to the church at Rome numerous times about being an adopted son of God and how we, being adopted should be living. In Romans 8:15 he says, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God." So in life today we need to be led daily by the Spirit of God in order to be known as a son of God.
As adopted children of God we have only received the first fruits of our adoption. We await the completion of our adoption when we will receive our full inheritance in heaven. We will be resurrected with glorified bodies to spend eternity with God and Jesus.
In Romans 8:23, Paul writes, "We also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body."
Are you an adopted son or daughter of God? If not, now is the time because He is waiting to adopt you. All you have to do is recognize that you are a sinner, ask Him for forgiveness and then ask Him to come into your heart. He will then adopt you as one of His children. We read in John 1:12, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name."
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 15:9.
"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love."
PRAYER
Thank You that You have adopted me as one of Your children. Give me the strength and determination to live for You every moment of this day. May all that I meet know that by my words and deeds that I am an adopted child of God.
ADOPTION
DEFINITION
Take or receive as one's own; to take and rear another's child as one's own.
SCRIPTURE
Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. Ephesians 1:5.
To redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Galatians 4:5.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
In ancient Rome, adoption was occasionally used by the emperors to pass on succession to competent heirs. For example, Augustus Caesar was adopted by his great uncle Julius Caesar. Other notable adoptees included the emperors Tiberius and Hadrian. All of them proved to be strong rulers because each one was raised and trained to live like a child of his adoptive father under Roman law. Adopted children had all the rights and privileges of the biological children.
Every Christian is an adopted child of the King of kings. Our adoption comes at a great cost. God brought us into His family through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus on the cross and when we asked Him for forgiveness for our sins and accepted Him as our Savior. Although we are adopted children, God has made us joint heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:17)
We should feel great indebtedness to Him for all that He has done for us. There is no way to repay Him. In return for our being adopted into God's family, God wants us to live in a way that a child of God is expected to live. In Colossians 3:5 we are told by Paul what we are to get rid of in our lives when we have been adopted by God. He tells us to, "Put to death the sinful ways of our old life; sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed and idolatry."
These are to be replaced by activities and desires that show that we belong to the family of God. Paul then tells us in Colossians 3:12 to "Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness and longsuffering." Can others that you meet daily see that you are an adopted child of God? They should by the way you walk and talk. We show that we are children of God when we honor God, call Him our Father and walk as His child.
In the book of Romans, Paul writes to the church at Rome numerous times about being an adopted son of God and how we, being adopted should be living. In Romans 8:15 he says, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God." So in life today we need to be led daily by the Spirit of God in order to be known as a son of God.
As adopted children of God we have only received the first fruits of our adoption. We await the completion of our adoption when we will receive our full inheritance in heaven. We will be resurrected with glorified bodies to spend eternity with God and Jesus.
In Romans 8:23, Paul writes, "We also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body."
Are you an adopted son or daughter of God? If not, now is the time because He is waiting to adopt you. All you have to do is recognize that you are a sinner, ask Him for forgiveness and then ask Him to come into your heart. He will then adopt you as one of His children. We read in John 1:12, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name."
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 15:9.
"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love."
PRAYER
Thank You that You have adopted me as one of Your children. Give me the strength and determination to live for You every moment of this day. May all that I meet know that by my words and deeds that I am an adopted child of God.
Build: November 3, 2010
Today's Word for Wednesday November 3, 2010
BUILD
DEFINITION
Construct; increase and strengthen; erect; shape.
SCRIPTURE
Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain that build it. Psalm 127:1
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
We can remember the Sunday school song that we sang when we were kids about the man who built his house on the sand and it did not stand firm. The song went on to tell about the wise man that built his house on the rock and it stood firm in the storm.
This song came from the portion of the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus preached to the multitudes when He was on this earth. (Matthew 7: 24-27) Jesus had just warned them, "to watch out for false prophets." He then proceeded to give a warning to those who profess to belong to God but have no relationship with Him. He used the illustration of the wise man and the foolish man.
First, Jesus says that whoever hears His words and does them will be like the wise man who built his house on the rock. The rock is Christ Jesus. Just as the house that was built on a solid foundation of rock was able to stand firm when the storms came and the winds beat against it, so will the man who builds his life on the solid foundation of Christ be able to stand through the storms of life. He then goes on to say that when the rain comes down, the pressures of this world we live in, and the floods and winds come our way the house (our lives) will not fall because our foundation is built on the rock Christ Jesus.
He then goes on to say that anyone that hears what He says and does not put into practice what He says is likened to the foolish man who builds his house on sand. When the rains, floods and winds of life come and beat on the house it will fall. And He says: "AND GREAT WAS THE FALL."
On what are you building your life? Are you building on the "things" of this world or are you building on the commandments that God gave us years ago through Moses His servant? Are you laying up treasures for yourself in heaven? Is your house (your life) built on the rock, Christ Jesus or the sand?
In Psalms 127:1, the psalmist warns us that unless we allow the Lord to build our house (our life) we are laboring in vain. No matter how hard we work to accomplish great things, only what is done for the Lord will last.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 15:9.
"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love."
PRAYER
Encourage my heart today to build my house on the precepts and commandments that You have given us in Your Word. Help me to be a doer of Your Word and not a hearer only. Help me to lead my family in the way of righteousness and that together we will build our house, our lives on You the rock.
BUILD
DEFINITION
Construct; increase and strengthen; erect; shape.
SCRIPTURE
Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain that build it. Psalm 127:1
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
We can remember the Sunday school song that we sang when we were kids about the man who built his house on the sand and it did not stand firm. The song went on to tell about the wise man that built his house on the rock and it stood firm in the storm.
This song came from the portion of the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus preached to the multitudes when He was on this earth. (Matthew 7: 24-27) Jesus had just warned them, "to watch out for false prophets." He then proceeded to give a warning to those who profess to belong to God but have no relationship with Him. He used the illustration of the wise man and the foolish man.
First, Jesus says that whoever hears His words and does them will be like the wise man who built his house on the rock. The rock is Christ Jesus. Just as the house that was built on a solid foundation of rock was able to stand firm when the storms came and the winds beat against it, so will the man who builds his life on the solid foundation of Christ be able to stand through the storms of life. He then goes on to say that when the rain comes down, the pressures of this world we live in, and the floods and winds come our way the house (our lives) will not fall because our foundation is built on the rock Christ Jesus.
He then goes on to say that anyone that hears what He says and does not put into practice what He says is likened to the foolish man who builds his house on sand. When the rains, floods and winds of life come and beat on the house it will fall. And He says: "AND GREAT WAS THE FALL."
On what are you building your life? Are you building on the "things" of this world or are you building on the commandments that God gave us years ago through Moses His servant? Are you laying up treasures for yourself in heaven? Is your house (your life) built on the rock, Christ Jesus or the sand?
In Psalms 127:1, the psalmist warns us that unless we allow the Lord to build our house (our life) we are laboring in vain. No matter how hard we work to accomplish great things, only what is done for the Lord will last.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 15:9.
"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love."
PRAYER
Encourage my heart today to build my house on the precepts and commandments that You have given us in Your Word. Help me to be a doer of Your Word and not a hearer only. Help me to lead my family in the way of righteousness and that together we will build our house, our lives on You the rock.
Tolerance: November 2010
Today's Word for Tuesday November 2, 2010
TOLERANCE
DEFINITION
Disposition to be patient and fair; forbearance; refraining from taking action.
SCRIPTURE
"He is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love, and faithfulness. Psalm 86:15
The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. Nahum 1:3
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
Many would argue that our God, the living and true God, the God of all creation, is intolerant. This is because they possibly think that they are good people and do not want to believe that as it was written in Romans 3:23 that "we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God," applies to them. Romans 6:23 goes on to tell us that the penalty for our sin is death.
There is one and only one way to be saved from receiving the penalty of death for our sins and that is to accept God's way of redemption -- accepting Jesus Christ as one's Savior. There are no loopholes or any other ways. There is no escaping God's judgment for our sins. Those who think God is intolerant think that God's judgment is not fair.
Our children often thought we were being intolerant when they didn't like being punished for breaking a rule that we had made for them. They loved to complain by saying something like, "It's just not fair."
In reality it is those who think that God is intolerant who are being unfair. Possibly they think this way because they believe that it is permissible to rebel against God and break His commandments. They seem to want to do as they please and then expect God to be tolerant with them.
The Israelites often complained when they suffered the consequences of sin. Ezekiel said to Israel as recorded in Ezekiel 18:25 "Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Is it not your ways that are unjust?" The truth is that God was very tolerant and patient with Israel, putting up with their disobedience and even their rejection of Him as their God.
God tolerates our sin and disobedience because He is compassionate (above verses) and slow to get angry. God wants to give us plenty of time to repent of our sins and turn to Him. While God is patient with us, He cannot tolerate our sin forever. He holds us accountable for our sins and judgment will come. In the verse above Nahum tells us that the Lord will not let the wicked go unpunished.
One of the hardest things for parents to do is to be tolerant and slow to anger in raising their children. Think how often your children have broken the rules or over stepped the boundaries that you have set for them. What is your reaction when this happens? Isn't the disobedience of your children difficult to tolerate? We are sure that you feel that it is difficult for you to tolerate this when it happens and to not get angry. When we think of our reactions to our children it should help us to understand how great God's tolerance is for us when we are disobedient.
God wants us to be slow to anger with our children just as He is slow to anger with us. Nevertheless, we cannot let our children's wickedness go unpunished. We must hold our children accountable for their disobedience just as God holds us accountable for our disobedience.
Tolerance is developing a disposition to be patient and fair in every situation you face in life. How many times have you faced issues at your work place, in your neighborhood and more important with your family where tolerance needed to be practiced and you became intolerant? Every day we need to communicate to our Lord through prayer asking Him for the tolerance you need for that day. Issues and frustrations come and go. As individuals, when we face these issues we make them a serious problem and they should be treated only as a passing situation.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 15:9.
"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love."
PRAYER
Lord, give me patience and help me to be tolerant and slow to anger when my children or others are disobedient. Give me wisdom in holding my children accountable to the rules I have given them. Thank You Lord for the tolerance You have shown me, allowing me time to repent.
TOLERANCE
DEFINITION
Disposition to be patient and fair; forbearance; refraining from taking action.
SCRIPTURE
"He is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love, and faithfulness. Psalm 86:15
The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. Nahum 1:3
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
Many would argue that our God, the living and true God, the God of all creation, is intolerant. This is because they possibly think that they are good people and do not want to believe that as it was written in Romans 3:23 that "we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God," applies to them. Romans 6:23 goes on to tell us that the penalty for our sin is death.
There is one and only one way to be saved from receiving the penalty of death for our sins and that is to accept God's way of redemption -- accepting Jesus Christ as one's Savior. There are no loopholes or any other ways. There is no escaping God's judgment for our sins. Those who think God is intolerant think that God's judgment is not fair.
Our children often thought we were being intolerant when they didn't like being punished for breaking a rule that we had made for them. They loved to complain by saying something like, "It's just not fair."
In reality it is those who think that God is intolerant who are being unfair. Possibly they think this way because they believe that it is permissible to rebel against God and break His commandments. They seem to want to do as they please and then expect God to be tolerant with them.
The Israelites often complained when they suffered the consequences of sin. Ezekiel said to Israel as recorded in Ezekiel 18:25 "Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Is it not your ways that are unjust?" The truth is that God was very tolerant and patient with Israel, putting up with their disobedience and even their rejection of Him as their God.
God tolerates our sin and disobedience because He is compassionate (above verses) and slow to get angry. God wants to give us plenty of time to repent of our sins and turn to Him. While God is patient with us, He cannot tolerate our sin forever. He holds us accountable for our sins and judgment will come. In the verse above Nahum tells us that the Lord will not let the wicked go unpunished.
One of the hardest things for parents to do is to be tolerant and slow to anger in raising their children. Think how often your children have broken the rules or over stepped the boundaries that you have set for them. What is your reaction when this happens? Isn't the disobedience of your children difficult to tolerate? We are sure that you feel that it is difficult for you to tolerate this when it happens and to not get angry. When we think of our reactions to our children it should help us to understand how great God's tolerance is for us when we are disobedient.
God wants us to be slow to anger with our children just as He is slow to anger with us. Nevertheless, we cannot let our children's wickedness go unpunished. We must hold our children accountable for their disobedience just as God holds us accountable for our disobedience.
Tolerance is developing a disposition to be patient and fair in every situation you face in life. How many times have you faced issues at your work place, in your neighborhood and more important with your family where tolerance needed to be practiced and you became intolerant? Every day we need to communicate to our Lord through prayer asking Him for the tolerance you need for that day. Issues and frustrations come and go. As individuals, when we face these issues we make them a serious problem and they should be treated only as a passing situation.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 15:9.
"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love."
PRAYER
Lord, give me patience and help me to be tolerant and slow to anger when my children or others are disobedient. Give me wisdom in holding my children accountable to the rules I have given them. Thank You Lord for the tolerance You have shown me, allowing me time to repent.
Chasten: November 1, 2010
Today's Word for Monday November 1, 2010
CHASTEN
DEFINITION
Punish; reprimand; make chaste; to inflict suffering or punishment upon; to humble or improve; discipline.
SCRIPTURE
If you endure chastening, God deals with you just as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? Hebrews 12:7
Chasten your son while there is hope, and do not set your heart on his destruction. Proverbs 19: 18
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
The word chasten as used in the Bible means to use methods of discipline for the purpose of teaching or improving a person. God is our heavenly Father and He deals with us as His children. As our father He desires that we love Him and be obedient to Him. We are all sinners and we are not naturally inclined to be obedient. God must chasten us just as a parent must chasten a child. He must correct us when we sin in order to improve our character. When we break God's laws, God chastens us by allowing us to suffer the consequences of our sin.
As parents we chasten our children when they break rules or cross boundaries. We call chastening punishment or a reprimand. We can remember many times, having six children when we had to reprimand or punish one of our children. When our children were young they often could not understand what they did wrong. So it was our responsibility as parents to teach them. Most often children know immediately that they have done wrong and are ready with an excuse.
As our children got older each one was different. We had children that would press right to the brink of breaking the rules. They would think that possibly if they went slightly over the brink, we would let it slide by. We had others, especially the younger ones that learned by watching and listening and therefore knew what the limits were.
One of the rules that were constantly disputed in our family was the curfew we set for the time when they must be home. Several of our children were masters at coming in just a minute or so late and if we said they were late they would ask to compare watches and clocks. Others were often late and always had an excuse.
As parents we not only set the rules but we established that there would be consequences if the rules were broken. God does the same thing with us as children of God. In the verse above from Hebrews, we are reminded that God will deal with us as His sons just as a father chastens his son (or daughter). This is the discipline of God in our lives. When we break His rules we will be chastened by God. This is certain and not a maybe and cannot be negotiated.
The prophet Hosea (Hosea 10:10) tells about God chastening the Children of Israel. He says, "When it is My desire, I will chasten them. Peoples shall be gathered against them when I bind them for their two transgressions." Hosea does not say maybe God will respond but he says that He will respond when it is His desire.
We all know that we learned to do what was right through the punishments and reprimands from our parents. When God chooses to chasten us it should be a learning experience that molds us into being more Christ-like.
The writer of Hebrews gives parents two warnings concerning chastening their children. The first warning is not to wait until it is too late to chasten your child. Parents must correct and discipline their children at an early age while there is still hope that the parent's instruction can have an impact on their life.
The second warning is that parents who over indulge their child and refuse to correct them can bring about their child's destruction. It has been discovered that children who are not disciplined by their parents, feel their parents do not really love them because they do not care what they do.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 15:9.
"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love."
PRAYER
Thank You that I can learn through the chastening You choose to give me. Help me to learn through these experiences to be more Christ-like in order that my life may radiate Your love to a hurting world.
CHASTEN
DEFINITION
Punish; reprimand; make chaste; to inflict suffering or punishment upon; to humble or improve; discipline.
SCRIPTURE
If you endure chastening, God deals with you just as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? Hebrews 12:7
Chasten your son while there is hope, and do not set your heart on his destruction. Proverbs 19: 18
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
The word chasten as used in the Bible means to use methods of discipline for the purpose of teaching or improving a person. God is our heavenly Father and He deals with us as His children. As our father He desires that we love Him and be obedient to Him. We are all sinners and we are not naturally inclined to be obedient. God must chasten us just as a parent must chasten a child. He must correct us when we sin in order to improve our character. When we break God's laws, God chastens us by allowing us to suffer the consequences of our sin.
As parents we chasten our children when they break rules or cross boundaries. We call chastening punishment or a reprimand. We can remember many times, having six children when we had to reprimand or punish one of our children. When our children were young they often could not understand what they did wrong. So it was our responsibility as parents to teach them. Most often children know immediately that they have done wrong and are ready with an excuse.
As our children got older each one was different. We had children that would press right to the brink of breaking the rules. They would think that possibly if they went slightly over the brink, we would let it slide by. We had others, especially the younger ones that learned by watching and listening and therefore knew what the limits were.
One of the rules that were constantly disputed in our family was the curfew we set for the time when they must be home. Several of our children were masters at coming in just a minute or so late and if we said they were late they would ask to compare watches and clocks. Others were often late and always had an excuse.
As parents we not only set the rules but we established that there would be consequences if the rules were broken. God does the same thing with us as children of God. In the verse above from Hebrews, we are reminded that God will deal with us as His sons just as a father chastens his son (or daughter). This is the discipline of God in our lives. When we break His rules we will be chastened by God. This is certain and not a maybe and cannot be negotiated.
The prophet Hosea (Hosea 10:10) tells about God chastening the Children of Israel. He says, "When it is My desire, I will chasten them. Peoples shall be gathered against them when I bind them for their two transgressions." Hosea does not say maybe God will respond but he says that He will respond when it is His desire.
We all know that we learned to do what was right through the punishments and reprimands from our parents. When God chooses to chasten us it should be a learning experience that molds us into being more Christ-like.
The writer of Hebrews gives parents two warnings concerning chastening their children. The first warning is not to wait until it is too late to chasten your child. Parents must correct and discipline their children at an early age while there is still hope that the parent's instruction can have an impact on their life.
The second warning is that parents who over indulge their child and refuse to correct them can bring about their child's destruction. It has been discovered that children who are not disciplined by their parents, feel their parents do not really love them because they do not care what they do.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in John 15:9.
"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love."
PRAYER
Thank You that I can learn through the chastening You choose to give me. Help me to learn through these experiences to be more Christ-like in order that my life may radiate Your love to a hurting world.
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