Determined to Discipline

Scripture: The LORD determined to lay in ruins the wall of the daughter of Zion; he stretched out the measuring line; he did not restrain his hand from destroying… Lamentations 2:8

Observation:
1. God determines to discipline his people.
2. God measures out his discipline to an exact amount needed, no more, no less.
3. God is willing to mete out harsh discipline to his loved ones.
My discipline of my own children is often haphazard, depending on my mood, frustration level. Often I feel my discipline is too light or too tough, but rarely just right. But God is always right on target. He knows what is needed to bring about the change he desires.

Application: Jessica is leaving town for the weekend tomorrow, leaving me alone with the kids. It is during these long periods that my tolerance drops, and I tend to discipline out of my flesh, and not God’s spirit. I want to embrace the coming weekend as a time for me to parent in the spirit.

Prayer: God, I yield myself to you for this coming weekend. I pray I will experience your patience. Help me have self control. I want this to be a fun time for me to have with my kids. I trust you to give me wisdom to discipline like you, determined and right on target.

When the Discipline is Over, Hope Remains

Scripture: Fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the LORD, for I am with you.
I will make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished." Jeremiah 46:28

Observation: Jeremiah is predicting God’s judgment on the nation of Egypt. At the end of this chapter, he speaks a word from God to God’s people: “I will not make an end of you. I will punish you, I will discipline you, but I will not end you.” Though God’s discipline is hard, it is necessary. And when the discipline is over, hope remains. For his kids, God always offers hope at the end of discipline.

Application: This is an element I need to bring into my discipline of my own kids…the promise of hope. The assurance that even though the punishment may be tough, when it is over, there is the hope of restoration. That we still love them even though we punish them. And when the punishment is over, there are not lingering consequences—they are fully back in the family. Actually, they never left.

Prayer: God, help me to have the attitude of God when I discipline my kids. Help me show them my love for them even though they have sinned. Let them know my love and commitment for them has not wavered.

The Faithfulness Principle

Scripture:
(7)“How can I pardon you? Your children have forsaken me and have sworn by those who are no gods. When I fed them to the full, they committed adultery and trooped to the houses of whores.
(8) They were well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing for his neighbor's wife. Jeremiah 5:7-8

Observation: Jeremiah describes two kinds of unfaithfulness—Spiritual unfaithfulness, as people leave their God to pursue other gods (7) and marital unfaithfulness, as men leave their wives to “neigh” for other wives (8). I think there is a connection: Infidelity in one area leads to infidelity in another.

Application: I have discovered that unfaithfulness in one area of my life inevitably leads to unfaithfulness in another area. To use another metaphor, when the walls of my life are broken down in one area, say my purity or my time with God, then the walls seems to crumble in other areas as well. It is a ripple effect. The good news is that when I seek God and rebuild walls in one area, get one area under control, then the other walls are easier to rebuild and maintain. So the simple act of repenting in one area, and beginning to be faithful in that area actually helps strengthen the other areas as well. For me, one of the easiest walls to ignore is this devotional time with God. When I neglect it, other areas of my life begin to crumble. When I maintain it, God shows me how to rebuild other walls. Jeremiah discovered this principle: Faithfulness breeds faithfulness and unfaithfulness breeds unfaithfulness.

Prayer: God, let me pay attention to the walls of my life. Help me continue to be faithful spiritually, so I do not breed unfaithfulness in my marriage, like the people of Jeremiah’s day did. Keep me passionately pursuing you. Thanks for your principle of faithfulness, and for your power to change me.

Ready for the Race July 15

Scripture: Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Hebrews 12:12-13

Observation: God’s people are running a race that requires endurance. As part of the race, they will endure the loving discipline of a Father who cares for them. This discipline would be painful in the moment, but would later yield the fruit of righteousness. In light of this coming painful race, we should lift our hands, strengthen our knees, make straight paths for our feet, so that we can walk without stumbling. What does that mean?

Application: We need to be in top shape to endure the grueling miles ahead. God is saying, “The race will be hard. Get in shape!” Jessica is training for a half-marathon. This race requires her to get in shape, to run a disciplined regime to prepare for that race. Same is true in my spiritual life. Knowing that I must run with endurance the race set before me (v. 1), I need to be in top spiritual shape. This requires faith-based discipline, not sheer willpower. Not only to strengthen my hands and knees, but to remove obstacles—habits, strongholds, sins—that will trip me up down the road. Looking to Jesus in faith, I see that he disciplined himself to do what was needed for the race, not always what he felt like doing.

Prayer: God, as I look at my life I see a struggle with self discipline. I am far too often governed by feelings and inclinations than self control and restraint. This will not prepare me for the rough race ahead. Doing this blog helps give me a degree of accountability to meet with you. But in other areas as well, I need to be guided by fixing my eyes on Jesus and the race before me, not the feelings of the moment. Give me strong hands and knees. Show me the rocks in the road I need to clear out, that I may run and grow strong in You. Amen.