The Discipline of the Lord

August 14th, 2013 by JDVaughn Leave a reply »

My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him —Hebrews 12:5


It is very easy to grieve the Spirit of God; we do it by despising the discipline of the Lord, or by becoming discouraged when He rebukes us. If our experience of being set apart from sin and being made holy through the process of sanctification is still very shallow, we tend to mistake the reality of God for something else. And when the Spirit of God gives us a sense of warning or restraint, we are apt to say mistakenly, “Oh, that must be from the devil.”

“Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19), and do not despise Him when He says to you, in effect, “Don’t be blind on this point anymore— you are not as far along spiritually as you thought you were. Until now I have not been able to reveal this to you, but I’m revealing it to you right now.” When the Lord disciplines you like that, let Him have His way with you. Allow Him to put you into a right-standing relationship before God.

“. . . nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him.” We begin to pout, become irritated with God, and then say, “Oh well, I can’t help it. I prayed and things didn’t turn out right anyway. So I’m simply going to give up on everything.” Just think what would happen if we acted like this in any other area of our lives!

Am I fully prepared to allow God to grip me by His power and do a work in me that is truly worthy of Himself? Sanctification is not my idea of what I want God to do for me— sanctification is God’s idea of what He wants to do for me. But He has to get me into the state of mind and spirit where I will allow Him to sanctify me completely, whatever the cost (see 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

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August 14, 2013

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, I really do not like the idea of being disciplined. My experience with discipline has not been positive over the years. It hurts. Not just the chastening, but the realization that I slipped again and again; the realization that I had not grown like I had hoped and prayed. Lord, I believe, help me in my unbelief; help me understand and trust You to make me a man after Your own heart.

And God says…”When you consider the sacrifice I provided for you, you begin to grasp the depth and breadth of My love for you. Consider the cross and then examine the molding and shaping you experience. I will never give you more than you can bear, nor are you disciplined as payment for your deeds or actions. The sacrifice of Jesus covers all of you; past, present and future. The loving discipline I provide as well as the circumstances I allow, are designed to help make you a man after my own heart. Seek first the kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and everything else you need will be provided.”

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