"You, O Lord, are my shepherd; I shall not want...Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." ~Psalm 23:1 & 4
It is paradoxical yet abundantly comforting to know God's love through discipline-rebuke; whether through the Nathans of His people or the Shimeis of the wicked. (Not if, but) When God fulfills His promise to bring about the "peaceable fruit of righteousness", after the painful and humbling training of His discipline, one paradoxically and sincerely begins to long for more of His discipline.
Not because such a one is a masochist and loves to suffer simply for suffering's sake. But rather because the perfect discipline coming from their Savior's Father is one of the testimonies/proof of His love toward them.
If one has not experienced the discipline of the Lord, one can't help but begin to wonder (because he's been formerly trained by Him) whether he is loved by God or has been given over to wandering captive to his own Flesh.
Oh Father God, I embrace You and submit readily to Your correction! Thank you for training (and continuing to train and remind) the eyes of my heart to see and to seek Your love; testified through Your discipline!
~~~
~Hebrews 12:5-13
"Do not forget the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
"My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives."
If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to the. But He chastened us for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.
Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful. Nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Therefore [with this truth in mind] strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet; so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed."
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Different Things God is teaching Me
SpiritualWhen God shows His love, mercy, forgiveness, longsuffering, and grace towards you...it shouldn't stop with you. You are destined to pass it on to others and reflect faithfulness and devotion back to Him as the Divine Spouse. Cover Art by Maria Oosth...
