I read this verse several days ago and its instruction immediately became a burr in my saddle. Extol the Lord at ALL times.
Tag: discipline
Our earthly work assignments are intentional and formational, not random and exasperating.
God’s love is the parka we wear against the blizzard that is our daily existence: insulating us from the brutal elements of bare humanity.
We can get caught up in the gross spiritual negligence of the chief priests or we can read their story as stark warning for our own. When we accuse, we become an accomplice with the enemy. And if we cannot lay aside our accusations long enough to hear from God, we may be delighting in a downstairs agenda.
This woman wanted what we all want: consecration without concentration, closeness without concerted effort.
Why is consistency so challenging for the believer? Why do we struggle to show up hungry for God each and every day?
The Lord disciplines because He loves. He can see so much farther than we can; He sees where our sin will take us. He knows how rebellion and selfishness will permeate a person and lead us down path of death. He loves us too much to leave us entirely to our own devices. He refuses to take His hand off us, even when His hand is heavy with repercussion. He will not abandon us to our arrogant ignorance. He intervenes. He corrects. He issues consequence as any truly loving parent would.