THE LORD’S DISCIPLINE

Time with Jesus - Tuesday, 04 September 2012

Hi all,

The Lord’s discipline is today’s topic for meditation. We all know that a father disciplines his children and that discipline is essential for life in this world. It comes in various ways. The rod is one method but is usually a “last resort”. Christians love to talk about the blessings spelled out in Deut. 28. & Lev. 26. The curses are seldom even read! They should be. Yes we are under grace. But God will discipline us. Personally, I’m glad. It shows He loves us.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Tuesday, 04 September 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	THE LORD’S DISCIPLINE
A couple of weeks ago I heard a rather funny story by a certain lady. She was dealing with her son. When asked about his will power, she said she wasn’t worried about his “will” power. It’s his “won’t” power that has her bothered. Phyllida and I have had some experience with this. Two of our sons lived with us in 1982. They were in the final year of Primary School and were sharing a room ou home. The boys were very different from each other. I’m not talking about being naughty. They were much the same as any youngster of their age. The difference was in their response to being asked to do something. The one would say he would do it then didn’t. The other said he wouldn’t and a little later he did! This sort of behaviour is difficult to deal with! How do you discipline a son who says he will, then doesn’t? What about a son who says he won’t and then does? I know Jesus speaks about such a situation. It’s found in Matthew’s gospel. 28 "But what do you think about this (asked Jesus)? A man with two sons told the older boy, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' 29 The son answered, 'No, I won't go,' but later he changed his mind and went anyway. 30 Then the father told the other son, 'You go,' and he said, 'Yes, sir, I will.' But he didn't go. Matthew 21:28-30 NLT It’s clear only one of them obeyed his father’s will. The other needed to be disciplined. How? We had to filter this through our own understanding. God doesn’t need that. He already knows. We know that Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees. They said they would obey the Lord but didn’t. On the other hand, “sinners” said they wouldn’t (couldn’t?) and did. In many ways, this is typical of things which take place in our lives. Either way, our Heavenly Father will deal with us. We understand that delayed obedience is disobedience. So both required a measure of discipline. But the one who said “No” and did, will be dealt with less severely that the one who said “Yes” and didn’t. One of our main difficulties is we don’t have much time to waste. Our life-span is very short. Furthermore, in this interlude, we have to make choices that have eternal consequences. It follows that we need the Lord’s discipline here and now. We need Him to tell us if we are doing well or badly! We need His discipline to establish this conclusively. I’ve heard of a young man who was allowed to “run wild”. He was undisciplined. His anti-social behaviour ultimately landed him in prison. But if he had been disciplined as a child, the chances are that he would have been O.K. The discipline would have been in the child’s best interests. Is the Lord disciplining you? Rejoice if He is! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			7 Jesus answered, "You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later." John 13:7 MSG 2 Remember that for 40 years the LORD your God led you on your journey in the desert. He did this in order to humble you and test you. He wanted to know whether or not you would wholeheartedly obey his commands. Deuteronomy 8:2 GW 8 And when I passed by again, I saw that you were old enough for love. So I wrapped My cloak around you to cover your nakedness and declared My marriage vows. I made a covenant with you, says the Sovereign LORD, and you became Mine. Ezekiel 16:8 NLT 6 For the LORD disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child." Hebrews 12:6 NLT 11 My child, don't reject the LORD's discipline, and don't be upset when He corrects you. 12 For the LORD corrects those He loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. Proverbs 3:11-12 NLT 12 Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad--for these trials make you partners with Christ in His suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing His glory when it is revealed to all the world. 1 Peter 4:12-13 NLT 17 For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT	None of us can comprehend the things the Lord does do. One moment everything is well. The next He’s telling you, That something you are doing is somewhat incorrect. Better have another look in order to detect, The reason for the problem. He is not amused. And as He’s looking at you, He says you are accused, Of something inconsistent with what is in His Word. Don’t you think the time has come to check out what you’ve heard? No it isn’t pleasant. In fact at times it’s tough. But He’ll increase the pressure until you cry “Enough! O Master, please forgive me, and help me get things right; So that my bad behaviour will end as from last night!” That’s typical behaviour between father and a son. He’d quickly show the problem with the things which I had done, And if it was quite serious, my dad would use his rod. That’s rather like that happens when it comes to you and God. He disciplines His children. His dealings may be sore. But He wants an assurance you won’t do it anymore. In fact, He steps up pressure, the longer that it takes. Until He sees you listening and decision to forsake, The thing He disapproves of. He starts with just a word; And ratchets up the pressure, ‘til He sees that you have heard. I’m glad the Father does this. If we are just ignored, Perhaps there’s something serious, between you and the Lord. We know the Father loves us when discipline takes place. If He doesn’t do so, you’re truly in disgrace. The one way we can know that we are objects of His love, Is when we know that discipline is coming from above. It happened in the Wilderness. The Lord said, “Go on in! Take the land I’ve given you, so go in now and win.” Instead they sent twelve spies out to investigate the land. Ten said we can’t do it the way the Lord has planned. The people were depressed about their negative report. Then God said their reactions meant they were getting naught. ‘Wander round the wilderness for almost forty years”. And that is just what happened, in spite of all their tears. So let us pay attention, to what the Father says. He will do the same to us, unless we change our ways. Do what we’re commanded, as soon as He has said. Or perish in the wilderness, left behind as dead. Jim Strickland – Written 4th September 2012