"Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent." -- Revelation 3:19
I've come to love the rebuke of the Lord. It's a comfort to know that the Creator of the universe loves me enough to give me that kind of personal guidance. And the great thing about God is that when he rebukes he also gives the way out. I came across this quote today:
"I don't mind the rebuke of the Lord. When people rebuke us, they leave us feeling bad. But when the Lord rebukes us, He gives the answer to our lack. After telling us what is wrong, He says, "I will show you the way." -- Ruth Ward Heflin, "Glory, Experiencing the Atmosphere of Heaven"
God most often disciplines his children in private. And if we don't heed that warning, a public correction is sure to follow. With man we make excuses, try to hide our faults, and play the blame game. But with God there are no excuses. We can't fool him. He knows us better than we know ourselves. Best to throw ourselves on the altar and let him pick up the pieces. God will not despise a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). Hallelujah!
Have you ever paid attention to the prayers of Paul? Or Jesus?
Those prayers are quite different from what we tend to pray.
Those prayers are not about material things or for things to go easy. I would say they are focused on knowing Christ and being rooted in His love.
In Ephesians and Colossians, Paul prays for these things for the church:
-- the Spirit of wisdom and revelation
-- that the eyes of their hearts may be enlightened
-- that they may know the hope to which he has called them
-- for strength in their inner being
-- that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith
-- that they will be rooted and established in love
-- that they will have power to grasp the depth of the love of Christ
-- that they may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God
-- that they will be filled with the knowledge of his will
-- that they will bear fruit in every good work
-- that they grow in the knowledge of God
-- that they would have great endurance and patience
-- that they would be joyful and thankful
And, Jesus' famous prayer in Luke:
-- not my will, but thy will
This is how I want to live today. Every day. The rest of my life:
Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Criticize by creating. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshiping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion.
Taken from the book "In a Pit with A Lion on a Snowy Day"
"Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent." -- Revelation 3:19
