Discipline

Hebrews 12:1-12

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."[a]
7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9Moreover, 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 our spirits and live! 10Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11No 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.
12Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.

I am so in love with this passage lately. Its always coming to mind. I got familiar with it when researching God's word regarding discipline for my son. But find more and more that I'm applying it to my own life as well as the lives of other adults God places in my path.

I see a cycle in my life of sin, discipline, repentance, growth. I sin, God disciplines me for my sin, I recognize and repent, and God brings growth. Then there is another sin to be dealt with and we start all over again. But so often I would get stuck in the discipline phase. Whether it was guilt or fear that kept me there, I would wallow in it.

I will be the first one to say how much it can sting when the truth of God's word hits our hearts. I would spend so much time worrying about the embarrassment I had caused myself and questioning how to be different. I had always lived this way, how was I going to change? What a waste! That was time I could have spent learning how to be different and be relieved of that "discipline" I had brought upon myself by just walking in obedience.

I have learned how awesome it is to let God take over and let go of my old ways and ideas. His ways are so much better than our ways. He is an awesome God. Don't get stuck in the recognition and admission phase...because its too hard to be different. Its not! God is the one who does all the work. Just let go!

I also let the devil discourage me with guilt. Don't think you are unloved and useless because you now have eyes to see your sin. God is revealing his truth so that you can repent and grow. Remember Christ already paid the price and you already have forgiveness.

I can testify to amazing things happening in my life, my marriage, my parenting, my friendships, when I've just let go and let God do it all for me.

God's Eyes

I have really been convicted lately to see people with God's eyes. You hear this terminology around the Christian community so often but how often do we really do it? Its amazing the difference in my relationship with others when I stop judging and let God be the judge. When I start seeing them as His lost sheep and loving them with His love, something amazing happens. Its got to be supernatural because I know I am not capable of looking beyond the sinner, but I know God is. He is changing something in me and its really amazing. Its so awesome when my first thought about a person or situation is surprising to me. A friend told me of a struggling person she knew and how disappointing it was to watch this person live in sin. My first thought wasn't "how could they be so stupid", it was "love them". I know that didn't come from me. I hope that I continue to walk close enough with God that His thoughts become my thoughts.

John 3:30
³⁰He must become greater; I must become less.

Funny how God Answers Prayer

For the past few days I have been praying for clarity on how to respond to DH's recent desire to beef up security at home. I had concerns about his motivation but didn't want to express them without God's leading. I was really wanting to submit and support his desire but at the same time wondering how we balance trusting God and preparing for "the worst". I mean who likes thinking about the possibility of home invasion. When he spoke to me about his ideas for security improvement (nothing too extreme, no bars on the windows or anything) I was reserved and just said they sounded like ideas to look into. Meanwhile I was praying for discernment and the proper response.

So...God is so funny. Today at the doctor's office, I was checking out and discovered that my wallet was not in my purse. That was a bit disconcerting. I considered the last time I had it out which was 2 days ago. Thankfully I did not completely freak out. I finished my errands for the morning and stopped by the bank to check my balance. Then called a few places it might have been. I asked for prayer to find it and then searched the car and house. I checked online and none of the cards had been used. I was starting to break down when it wasn't turning up at home. But quickly I determined to not let this ruin my awesome week or my day (in which was planned a special V-day date with DH). After considering all that could have happened to it, my best logical explanation is that it was stolen from my car yesterday morning.

Now a few months ago this could have been something that really set me off for weeks. I would have made a catastrophe out of the whole thing and been complaining about it to everyone. But today while talking over the whole situation with DH on our date, I realized that losing my wallet was actually an answer to prayer.

See, God helped me to see that...well, simply put, "Bad things happen to good people". It is likely that someone actually stole my wallet. How likely it is that someone will break into my house? Well, I don't know, but it could happen. Even though I love God and God loves me, there is still evil in this world and...it could happen. So why not follow the wisdom that God has given my husband to protect his family. There really is no reason not to.

The missing wallet was a big deal. Just not in the way you would think. It was a big deal because it was God speaking to me again for the umpteenth time this week. Praise Him for his faithfulness and His answering prayer...even when its not as we expect.

God's Creation

I saw two of the most stunning examples of his creation this week. Today it was a beautiful full rainbow that I swear was there just for me. There is this stretch of road on my way home that is just fields and then mountains in the background...I could see the complete rainbow in front of the mountains and there was no one else on the road. It was just amazing!

On Monday as I was on my way home in the evening (the same day God gave me Gal 6:9) I saw the full moon rising at sunset. Have you ever seen it? So huge and bright and beautiful. It was like God was saying, way to go Liz I'm so proud of you and glad you are listening to me.

I love those moments when I really feel God in my life. Its great to know that I dont labor in vain. 1 Cor 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Growing Weary

Gal 6:9-10
9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Do you ever have one of those days where you are weary of doing good?

That was me yesterday and it was awesome because God brought this verse to mind and it really encouraged me.
DH and I were struggling yesterday, partly because of our flesh and partly because I think Satan is trying to attack since we both have been doing so well lately and growing so much.

Needless to say we both made some mistakes and my flesh really just wanted to give up on the day. I didn't want to go to the grocery store, work or make dinner. These may seem like little things but these are the things that I have been working on keeping a tight schedule with. I knew DH would like the dinner I was making and I wanted to be mad and just not make it. But I didn't give in! Even though my flesh was saying, "why do I always have to be the good one, doing the right thing?". And then this verse popped into my head! Praise God. I did what I needed to do for the day and was encouraged and had a good attitude about it.

Sometimes its just hard to get out of our own ruts but this verse really helped me do that yesterday.

Gifts of the Spirit

1 Cor 12:1-11
1Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

So what about the gifts? Are they for us now or just for the early church? If so, how do we use them?

I believe that the gifts are for the church now as much as they were for the early church.

I grew up in a church that was very "spirit-filled". I put it in quotes because that is just what people tend to say, though I believe we all have the spirit in us if we have Christ.

In this spirit filled church though, even as a young girl, I felt pressure to have to speak in tongues and be slain in the spirit, when prayed for. I look back and wonder how real those experiences were (for me). I don't doubt that God does those things in us and through us. I just feel like sometimes too much emphasis is put on these things and it distracts from God's true purpose for us - to be holy and blameless on the day of his coming. I wonder if I spent more time learning his word then trying to impress the congregation, would I have strayed less?

"to SOME are given"...not to all or that all need to experience/receive each gift. God gives gifts to those of his choosing and to be used for his purposes to edify the body...not edify the individual.

Eph 4:11-13
11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Rom 12:5-7
5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his[b]faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

When we talk about gifts people get so stuck on tongues and healing that they forget about so many of the other gifts...like faith, teaching, serving, encouraging, etc. These gifts are no less important and need to be recognized as much as the more "supernatural" gifts. No gift is too small for God to use in amazing ways!

Judging

What does God say about judging others? The first few verses I can think of are these:
Mat 7:1-2
1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

And then seemingly to the contrary:

1 Cor 5:9-13
9I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

12What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."

What does judging really mean? And what does Paul mean by judging those inside the church?

First and foremost there is only one true judge, Jesus Christ. He will judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42, 2 Tim 4:1, 1 Pet 4:5). However Paul has a point we as the church are to hold one another accountable - out of brotherly love for the good of the church. But we cannot hold up the same measuring stick to those outside the church. They don't have Christ so how can they be expected to live like him. Our focus there should be sharing His love, not his judgment.

Judging within the church is also a very fine line. Eph 4 talks about speaking the truth in love in order to gain unity. But we also have to wait on God's timing and always approach others with humility.

God has really taught me this because I struggle with pride. I really have to be careful when looking at others. I have to not compare and I have to remember that all I am and have is what God has given me. I am no better than anyone else. And if I have grown in ways that others may not have yet, it is only because of what God has chosen to do in me. Not by my might, not by my power but by HIS SPIRIT! (Zec 4:6)

I have also learned that compassion is another key for me in not judging. Instead of looking down my nose at those who struggle, I'm learning to recognize and empathize with how difficult our struggles can be.

Again, Jesus is the one true judge, we are just his servants and need to be careful who and how we "judge".