Recent Devotions
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it . . . How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? (Hebrews 2: 1, 3, ESV) As I write this devotion, I am waiting for a repairman to arrive. No, nothing is broken, but I’m doing some preventive maintenance. I have friends who don’t see the need of paying a service call if everything still works. That penny-pinching can end up costing more in repairs than paying for a seasonal checkup. In some instances, the neglected maintenance creates an…
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Romans 12:12, ESV) Listening to a man being interviewed on the radio, I questioned one bold statement when he declared, “I never have a bad day.” Never? I think most of us would readily admit we’ve had good days…
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23-24) I believe all of us appreciate openness and honesty in others. If we are purchasing an appliance,…
Readers Loved
“And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti” (Esther 2:17). The Book of Esther is a small book tucked into the middle of the Old Testament. It contains just ten short chapters, with a beautiful young Jewish orphan and her older cousin as two of the central characters. The book contains a bit of love, a bit of intrigue, good versus evil, and a happy ending when good…
“Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25, English Standard Version) As a child, I remember the excitement of attending the family reunion. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a roadside park with a few picnic tables where the aunts set out platters of fried chicken, potato salad, coleslaw, and other yummy homemade dishes. They loaded those tables with enough food for an army. In the meantime, the cousins ran and played, happy to be together again. The uncles sat and…
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him.” (Hebrews 12:5 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible)
There is an area of parenting that I do not enjoy and that is disciplining my children. My ten-year-old can be especially difficult to punish because he is old enough now to justify, rationalize, and even minimize whatever he is guilty of. As a parent, I want to give him the benefit of the doubt, but through trial and error I’ve learned that there is such a thing as too much mercy. If I refuse to discipline, I have noticed that my son’s attitude borders on disrespectful, disobedient and stubborn. And have you noticed that punishment generally has consequences for the parent too? If I tell my son he can’t play with his friends for the rest of the day, I end up contending with a disgruntled, bored little boy who won’t give me a moment’s peace! Punishment effects whomever is involved.
The Bible teaches that disciplining our children shows them that we love them. And God takes our discipline very seriously too. He does not want us to regard it lightly. Refusing to surrender to God’s discipline will delay His blessing in our life. Just as a parent does not enjoy disciplining their children, it is God’s desire to bless us, not to hurt us. We need discipline to handle the blessings. Our character needs to be developed so we can receive more from the Lord without it destroying our integrity. Without discipline we would become spoiled and useless to the Kingdom of God.
Prayer: Lord, I am feeling the growing pains of reaching a new level of commitment in my Christian journey. I understand that this is a season of testing in my life. Please help me respond correctly to discipline and open my heart to the lessons You are teaching me. Amen.
Devotion by Julie Long
Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around. (Proverbs 13:12, The Message) Some people appear to have more life challenges than others. While it would be great to be able to dissect the reasons why this is so, there is no way anyone can truly understand why these things happen. All I can say is that there is a reason for everything. The feeling of disappointment makes everyone heartsick. No one enjoys the feeling of being let down. Choose today to trust God even in the disappointment and wait on Him to turn your…
