Prayer: Father, an age-old question is posed to You today. Help me to understand. Give me insight. Amen.
Reading: Jeremiah 12 key: vs. 1 “Righteous are You, Adonai, when I plead my case with You. Yet I speak with You about justice. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the treacherous thrive?”
Attention: I have used the correlations and similarities of our earthly, biological fathers with the Supreme Father of fathers, Adonai, with past scripture. Analogies seem appropriate for this passage. During your childhood, did your father discipline you or the neighborhood children? He disciplined you didn’t he. Why did he only discipline you? You were his child and he loved you. God does not discipline those who are not his. According to the writer of Hebrews, “Have you forgotten the warning addressed to you as sons? “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of Adonai or lose heart when you are corrected by Him, because Adonai disciplines the one He loves and punishes every son He accepts.” It is for discipline that you endure. God is treating you as sons—for what son does a father not discipline? But if you are without discipline—something all have come to share—then you are illegitimate and not sons. Besides, we are used to having human fathers as instructors—and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? Indeed, for a short time they disciplined us as seemed best to them; but He does so for our benefit, so that we may share in His holiness. Now all discipline seems painful at the moment—not joyful. But later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it (Hebrews 12:5-11).”
This passage is some of the most straight forward scripture to understand. God disciplines those who are His and He disciplines with a purpose of “share (ing) in His holiness,” and discipline “yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it!”
My earthly father disciplined me, and I respected him. My heavenly Father has disciplined me over the years. Have I deserved it? Not always from my earthly father, but God has always been spot on.
I hope you can acknowledge times in your life when you knew the discipline you were receiving was from God. It was judicious and not malicious. It was loving and effective.
So, do not be deceived about thinking that the wicked are getting away with anything and not getting what they deserve. God is being longsuffering and wishes for all to come to repentance. There is a judgement day, and all will receive what they deserve. Concern yourselves with being obedient and praying for those who think they are getting away with evil and that God does not notice. He does notice.
Action: I choose to accept the correction of my Heavenly Father as one of His own.
Yield: I choose to submit to the loving discipline of Adonai.
Engage: I choose to engage in the discipline of Adonai as an instrument of His training, for holiness and righteousness.
Relationship: I choose to live in obedient, intimate relationship with my heavenly Father.
Prayer: Father, Thank You for the serendipity of our friend Rosie today. Someone blessed her by paying for her groceries. Thank You for a friend who helped us this weekend avoid a large plumbing bill. We see You hand of love every day. Amen.
Memory Verse: Hebrews 10:26-27 “For if we keep on sinning willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but only a terrifying expectation of judgment and a fury of fire about to devour the enemies of God.” TLV
Music Video: Jesus Culture—One Thing Remains https://youtu.be/6_KXsMCJgBQ?si=pmMe4KjaPSUn7-ph
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”