Discipline, Part 2

I am sure that I could write on a more "exciting" principle of the New Testament. I fully understand that the promises of God provides for our healing, our salvation, our deliverance as well as many other great and precious promises. But all of us need to remember that God always knows what we need at any particular point in our journey. We need discipline whether or not we want to admit it. Discipline affords us the opportunity to respond to God in maturity as He continues the process of our spiritual development. Moses shared these words with us in Deuteronomy 8:5, "Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good" (NLT). How many times did you hear your parents say, "This is for your own good." How many times did our flesh resist those words but deep in our hearts we knew that our parents were correct? Is that not the same way we feel toward God when He sends discipline our way? At first, we seek to resist the discipline but then we begin to realize that God knows best and that our lives needed the intervention of discipline. God's correction is always meant for our good; God is interested in our spiritual development and that development requires times and moments of discipline. Today, we need to take a moment and think about the reason behind the actions of God. God is committed to finishing what He has started in our lives and I want to be willing to submit to those times of discipline that He will send my way. He disciplines me because He loves me! The time of summer offers many opportunities to participate in various types of activities with our family and friends. It is always an enjoyment to spend time with family and friends in relaxation and entertainment. But all of us need to make sure that during those "fun times" that we remain committed to offering our lives to God in sacrifice and surrender. We also need to remember that God desires our worship and praise at all times and that we need to make the time for Him in all of our planning for the activities of summer. We must remember that it is God who has provided for us the resources that we need to "enjoy" our life on earth.