Those Hard Words
written at Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Jeremy Riddle said, "Whenever I read scripture, especially when God is specifically and directly addressing His people, I read that word as if it was written to me. It doesn't matter how much it actually applies to me or my situation, at some level it always does and leaves me filled with a holy fear of the Lord." How true! And in this, it reminds me once again of how much I need His rebuke in my life, His discipline. The Father loves us, and will discipline us, because He loves us.
In many situations, we reject discipline, we simply run away knowing that it's painful, because (reality check) it is painful. We put a plug on our ears to those honest and critical words which are delivered by our closest or friends and family. If left on our own, we will surely create a world for ourselves, comfort and convenience will be all that we seek, because we simply despise discomfort and inconvenience. But I've found that God isn't afraid of pain or discomfort at all and He is going to use these elements in our lives to sanctify us. Hebrews 2:10 states that God the Father perfected His own Son through suffering, so I would be so bold as to guarantee He will perfect us through a similar means.
Sure, in many churches today, messages of God's grace, mercy and unconditional love can be preached on the pulpits. It is encouraging, it is a very positive message indeed. But...Have we been so caught up in the need for encouragement when we're down in the dumps, the support, the words of affirmation so that we can be somewhat more optimistic or hold a more positive outlook in our lives? That is good, it is the gospel after all, it is the good news! But we're missing something here aren't we guys?
With the mention of these wonderful attributes of our Faith, we risk forgetting about other equally vital aspects. Have we lost our appetite for the harder words and sayings of Jesus because our diet is notably absent of them? To be honest, they are not the nicest tasting, let alone most pleasant things to feast on. I'll gladly take a piece of fried chicken over boiled asparagus. We avoid the asparagus like a plague, we don't want it, we don't like it, it leaves a disgusting after-taste in our mouths and all we want to do is complain to Daddy and spit it out.
Oh how we need the Lord's discipline in our lives! Let's not cast off His love for us by turning away from His discipline. And so, the next time you hear what seems to be cold and heartless words of rebuke or truths from a close friend of yours, do remember, those are the most
loving words you will receive.
Let us embrace the piercing, offensive and hard sayings of Jesus. It is time to ponder them. It is time to grieve over them. May these words bring us to repentance. May they produce a holy fear in our lives. And may it further shape us into the image of the Son, that we may shine on earth the way He did.
Those Hard Words
written at Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Jeremy Riddle said, "Whenever I read scripture, especially when God is specifically and directly addressing His people, I read that word as if it was written to me. It doesn't matter how much it actually applies to me or my situation, at some level it always does and leaves me filled with a holy fear of the Lord." How true! And in this, it reminds me once again of how much I need His rebuke in my life, His discipline. The Father loves us, and will discipline us, because He loves us.
In many situations, we reject discipline, we simply run away knowing that it's painful, because (reality check) it is painful. We put a plug on our ears to those honest and critical words which are delivered by our closest or friends and family. If left on our own, we will surely create a world for ourselves, comfort and convenience will be all that we seek, because we simply despise discomfort and inconvenience. But I've found that God isn't afraid of pain or discomfort at all and He is going to use these elements in our lives to sanctify us. Hebrews 2:10 states that God the Father perfected His own Son through suffering, so I would be so bold as to guarantee He will perfect us through a similar means.
Sure, in many churches today, messages of God's grace, mercy and unconditional love can be preached on the pulpits. It is encouraging, it is a very positive message indeed. But...Have we been so caught up in the need for encouragement when we're down in the dumps, the support, the words of affirmation so that we can be somewhat more optimistic or hold a more positive outlook in our lives? That is good, it is the gospel after all, it is the good news! But we're missing something here aren't we guys?
With the mention of these wonderful attributes of our Faith, we risk forgetting about other equally vital aspects. Have we lost our appetite for the harder words and sayings of Jesus because our diet is notably absent of them? To be honest, they are not the nicest tasting, let alone most pleasant things to feast on. I'll gladly take a piece of fried chicken over boiled asparagus. We avoid the asparagus like a plague, we don't want it, we don't like it, it leaves a disgusting after-taste in our mouths and all we want to do is complain to Daddy and spit it out.
Oh how we need the Lord's discipline in our lives! Let's not cast off His love for us by turning away from His discipline. And so, the next time you hear what seems to be cold and heartless words of rebuke or truths from a close friend of yours, do remember, those are the most
loving words you will receive.
Let us embrace the piercing, offensive and hard sayings of Jesus. It is time to ponder them. It is time to grieve over them. May these words bring us to repentance. May they produce a holy fear in our lives. And may it further shape us into the image of the Son, that we may shine on earth the way He did.
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Knowing
What matters supremely, therefore, is not
in the last analysis, the fact that I know God,
but the larger fact which underlies it --
the fact that He knows me.
J. I. Packer
