Discipline proves legitimacy...I'll take that spanking and thank God for it!
Over the past week or so, the Lord has been revealing a depth of sin in my heart that I'd become numb unto. The sermon on Sunday, the teaching of my husband during Sunday School, and the comment months ago by a very young girl all worked together by the power of the Holy Spirit to bring me under deep conviction.
The sermon touched on submission to the authority of the church. My husband taught on the sin of unbelief when a Christian is unforgiving toward another. He expounded on the unforgiving person's lack of trust in God to punish sin, either on the cross (for a believer) or in hell (for an unbeliever). I then thought back to the comment of a tiny girl who was angry at the time about...well, I'm not sure what.
Her words were, "This ain't your church!!!!"
Now these teachings and that little girl's words ring over and over in my head as they apply to my sin. I grieve over the time I've wasted in thought over hurts or disagreements. It's not my church! It's not my life! Nothing's mine! It's all God's! That time could and should have been spent praying! God isn't glorified in my hurt feelings---and definitely not in my harbored resentment or anger toward another.
God has placed, within the church, leaders to make decisions. They are accountable to God for their decisions. They are led by Him and I'm to follow....joyfully! I grieve over ill feelings harbored over periods of time toward people who've been redeemed by the blood of my Savior! If His blood is enough to forgive my sin, isn't it enough to forgive theirs? Even if I've been wronged, isn't God capable of taking care of that? Does my continued stewing over that "wrong" make it right? I grieve over my sins of unbelief and unforgiveness. I am broken yet rejoicing for the beautiful way He disciplines those He loves. I'm so thankful for His discipline which proves I'm not an illegitimate son! Thank You Lord! I'll take that spanking that I so deserve--and thank You for it!
"The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand." (Psalm 37:23-24)
The sermon touched on submission to the authority of the church. My husband taught on the sin of unbelief when a Christian is unforgiving toward another. He expounded on the unforgiving person's lack of trust in God to punish sin, either on the cross (for a believer) or in hell (for an unbeliever). I then thought back to the comment of a tiny girl who was angry at the time about...well, I'm not sure what.
Her words were, "This ain't your church!!!!" Now these teachings and that little girl's words ring over and over in my head as they apply to my sin. I grieve over the time I've wasted in thought over hurts or disagreements. It's not my church! It's not my life! Nothing's mine! It's all God's! That time could and should have been spent praying! God isn't glorified in my hurt feelings---and definitely not in my harbored resentment or anger toward another.
God has placed, within the church, leaders to make decisions. They are accountable to God for their decisions. They are led by Him and I'm to follow....joyfully! I grieve over ill feelings harbored over periods of time toward people who've been redeemed by the blood of my Savior! If His blood is enough to forgive my sin, isn't it enough to forgive theirs? Even if I've been wronged, isn't God capable of taking care of that? Does my continued stewing over that "wrong" make it right? I grieve over my sins of unbelief and unforgiveness. I am broken yet rejoicing for the beautiful way He disciplines those He loves. I'm so thankful for His discipline which proves I'm not an illegitimate son! Thank You Lord! I'll take that spanking that I so deserve--and thank You for it!
"The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way. When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand." (Psalm 37:23-24)
When hurt or comments or whatever it is bothers me and sometimes even consumes me I always recite to myself, "Let go and let God". I can't deal with it on my own, but isn't all He asks is to lay it at His feet and leave it there? How many times do we take things/ situations to Him and lay them down but pick them right back up when we are done. He told us we don't have to carry it. He will do it for us. But we don't completely let go. Why is it we can't seem to let go and let God?
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Hi Taria! So great to read your insight and thoughts and to know that you struggle in some of the same ways. It's really encouraging to have sisters to come alongside you and to encourage you with words from the Lord.
I think the main problem is that we're completely incapable of "letting" God do anything. He leaves us to struggle for a time, knowing that we cannot conquer our sin on our own. I think He is waiting for us to realize our inability and to fall on our faces as though dead before His majesty...begging Him to change our wicked hearts and to cleanse us from these repetitive evils we commit daily against Him and one another. He does say He will carry our burdens but our unbelief, exemplified in our refusal to turn over our anxieties and struggles, says to Him, "You aren't able to understand what I'm going through! You can't handle my sin!" How blasphemous our (my) unbelieving refusals are in the face of the GODMAN. May He forgive and help my unbelief!
"Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land..." Psalm 37:7-9 (Emphasis mine)
Thank you for challenging me! I love you Sister!
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