Good morning,
Those whom I love,
When God created us in his image, he designed us in love. He also designed us to be able to love in return. Then, knowing the course of time and the necessity of our choosing love, he built into us a deep longing for love that was stronger then the fear that would come with our sin nature. When God created Adam and Eve he also created them with a choice. He told them that their part of the relationship with God required them to keep his command to not eat the fruit of just one tree. A very skillful liar was able to convince them that living their own way would be much better, and now all of us have a sin nature that enjoys living as self lovers instead of God lovers. Another lie that our enemy tells us is that if we do fall in love with our Savior and Lord, Jesus will be happy with what we decide is right and wrong for us to do as one of his children. In the Old Testament our Lord tells us,“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”(Prov.3:11,12) Does this mean that God’s love for us gives him the right to get in our face and tell us to change what we think and do?
In the New Testament, when Jesus was talking to one of his churches in Laodicea, he told them, Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.(Rev.3:19) This particular group of believers was quite happy with what they had and what they were doing in the name of Jesus. They were so self aware of their relationship with Jesus, that they had no idea that what they were doing made Jesus feel like spitting them out of his mouth. They had completely forgotten what Jesus said to his disciples when he said, If you love me, keep my commandments.(John14:15) Their way of doing church and serving their Savior was based on the values of their culture and their own comfort. They had also forgotten what the writer of Hebrews had written, If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.(Heb.12:8) Now thousands of years later we find ourselves surrounded by all kinds of leaders who are doing their best to teach us to accommodate our ministries to our cultures so that we will be growing and successful. The idea of discipline, personally or as a group, seems scary and unfair and unnecessary. The writer of Hebrews goes on to say, For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.(12:11) Jesus himself pointed this out when he said, Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.(Rev.3:20) It is daily discipline and, when necessary, heart felt repentance that makes it possible for us to have a genuine feeling of a close family love for Jesus and one another. Dear Lord, please help us to genuinely value your discipline and heavenly guidance in this earthly battle, and then never forget the eternal joy we will have with you and one another when we finally arrive in our heavenly home.
Revelation 3:19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
Roy Wisner
