" 'My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him; For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.' It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness." ~ Hebrews 12:6-11
What is a disciple without discipline? The true follower of Christ, surrendered to grace, must endure earthly hardships brought about by God's discipline so that he may become sanctified, molded more to the image of Christ.
Fact #1: GOD DISCIPLINES. Scripture clearly reveals that discipline is both necessary and beneficial. This applies to both God Himself and us as humans. It is necessary that God discipline. His holy character requires it. In His perfect and righteous justice, God must discipline his children. Therefore it is necessary that we, as His creatures, submit to it. This is beautiful. For God, in His perfect wisdom and sovereignty, set up a system where He can justly discipline his children while they simultaneously benefit and grow through it. We are sanctified and God is glorified.
Fact #2: GOD DISCIPLINES IN LOVE. Just as God is just, He is love. God's discipline must constantly serve, to us, as a reminder of His love. Because, as Hebrews teaches us, those whom the Lord loves He disciplines (v. 6). Before time (in love) He predestined me, so that at just the right time (in love) He would die for me with the the purpose so that at my time (in love) He could redeem me; and now, according to His time, His work continues (in love) by disciplining me. I must remember that if I am discipline then I am loved.
Fact #3: GOD SUFFERS WHEN HE DISCIPLINES. Everything that was and is and will be and all that happens is for the glory and pleasure of God. However what we must realize is that we do not have a God who joys in our hardships. We do have a God who has perfect knowledge of what is best for His children. He rejoices not in the punishment in itself but in the results it brings about in us. Remember that He suffered the cross for the result of our salvation. (He was pleased to crush Him ~ Isaiah 53:10).
Fact #4: GOD'S DISCIPLINE PROVES OUR ADOPTION. The Lord only disciplines His sons. All are susceptible to His punishment, but only those He has called to adoption are disciplined ("He scourges every son whom He receives" ~ v. 6). This must be a source of encouragement to us. As we are tested and tried under the pressure of the refinery, let us remember that it is because we are under the loving grace of our glorious Father.
Fact #5: GOD'S DISCIPLINE IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH. Verse nine says that we must submit to the discipline of God to live. The life surrendered to grace is just that: surrendered. We must be surrendered to the discipline and direction that God has for our lives. If we resist and reject the will of God then the Lord may (justly) take away the very life we are trying to keep for ourselves.
Fact #6: GOD DISCIPLINES FOR THE PURPOSE OF HOLINESS. God is passive in nothing. He is the active creator and sustainer of all. There is perfect purpose in His will. Discipline produces in us a change in character. It strips us of ourselves in order to reveal more of Christ. It lowers and prostrates us so that Christ may be raised and glorified.
"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." ~ Romans 5:1-5
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Grace Means Satisfaction - Resolution 3
Resolved: That I will seek no other comfort or relief but that which solely comes from the glorious grace of God.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ." ~ II Corinthians 1:3-5
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 4:4-7
"Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." ~ Colossians 3:1
What does it mean to be truly satisfied, to live life completely content, without need, lacking nothing? It is human nature to seek gratification. We strive to be satisfied. And all throughout history man has attempted every conceivable method of achieving his goal. We long to fulfill our needs and, to so many, need seems to be an unquenchable force.
How strong the desires of the flesh are and how weak its resolve. Why do we continually seek satisfaction in the unfulfilling desires of the flesh? It is simply foolishness. Our culture has lowered the standards of pleasure. We have become a fast-food nation that prefers simple, immediate gratification over that which truly nourishes and delights. Like everything else our culture has reduced pleasure to the simplest, crudest, and most immediate forms. People seek satisfaction in TV, food, and other simple irrelevant forms. Sex has become our end all, be all of human satisfaction. People seek after it as the peak of human pleasure. How deceived have we become? Every earthly pleasure is temporary. Their quench dries out and their gratification will cease. But we are offered so much more.
We have been offered the gift of the life that lacks nothing and is filled with pleasure that never ceases. We have been offered the abundant life. We seek so many ways to satisfy ourselves, yet there is only one. Jesus Christ is our gratifier, He is the one who brings true joy. "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life" (John 4:13-14).
What does it look like to derive all joy and comfort from God? How amazing is it for one to put all his comfort and hope solely in God, not in flesh or family or friends or possessions or activities or emotions that will all fail, but in the holy, eternal Father who never falters? I long for that kind of faith. The faith that cannot see despair or tribulation because it is so focused on the glorious face of Christ. Brothers why must we find this so difficult? Why do so many of us, knowingly seek comfort and pleasure in the unfulfilling things of the world? "The enjoyment of God is the only happiness which our souls can [truly] be satisfied" (Jonathan Edwards). If only we could begin to aspire to that knowledge.
The life surrendered to grace requires service. And yes, the life surrendered to grace will bring suffering. But the life surrendered to grace is the only life and is the only way, the only truth that will bring you unwavering, complete satisfaction. Let us ignore it no longer.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ." ~ II Corinthians 1:3-5
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 4:4-7
"Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." ~ Colossians 3:1
What does it mean to be truly satisfied, to live life completely content, without need, lacking nothing? It is human nature to seek gratification. We strive to be satisfied. And all throughout history man has attempted every conceivable method of achieving his goal. We long to fulfill our needs and, to so many, need seems to be an unquenchable force.
How strong the desires of the flesh are and how weak its resolve. Why do we continually seek satisfaction in the unfulfilling desires of the flesh? It is simply foolishness. Our culture has lowered the standards of pleasure. We have become a fast-food nation that prefers simple, immediate gratification over that which truly nourishes and delights. Like everything else our culture has reduced pleasure to the simplest, crudest, and most immediate forms. People seek satisfaction in TV, food, and other simple irrelevant forms. Sex has become our end all, be all of human satisfaction. People seek after it as the peak of human pleasure. How deceived have we become? Every earthly pleasure is temporary. Their quench dries out and their gratification will cease. But we are offered so much more.
We have been offered the gift of the life that lacks nothing and is filled with pleasure that never ceases. We have been offered the abundant life. We seek so many ways to satisfy ourselves, yet there is only one. Jesus Christ is our gratifier, He is the one who brings true joy. "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life" (John 4:13-14).
What does it look like to derive all joy and comfort from God? How amazing is it for one to put all his comfort and hope solely in God, not in flesh or family or friends or possessions or activities or emotions that will all fail, but in the holy, eternal Father who never falters? I long for that kind of faith. The faith that cannot see despair or tribulation because it is so focused on the glorious face of Christ. Brothers why must we find this so difficult? Why do so many of us, knowingly seek comfort and pleasure in the unfulfilling things of the world? "The enjoyment of God is the only happiness which our souls can [truly] be satisfied" (Jonathan Edwards). If only we could begin to aspire to that knowledge.
The life surrendered to grace requires service. And yes, the life surrendered to grace will bring suffering. But the life surrendered to grace is the only life and is the only way, the only truth that will bring you unwavering, complete satisfaction. Let us ignore it no longer.
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