The past two weeks in our Sunday School class we have been discussing suffering vs chastening. We have looked at Proverbs 3:11-12
"My son do not despise the Lord's discipline
and do not resent His rebuke
because the Lord disciplines those He loves
as a father, the son He delights in"
Discipline is a central part of a Christian's life. We are called to "suffer with Christ". But Christians are partakers of a great exchange...the unrighteous for the righteous. This is something the world does not have. The world has the same suffering but it is without redemptive purpose...it is a consequence of sin. Sin is continually unwidding this earth. But for Christians, a sinner's life is exchanged for a godly life through the cross. I find myself constantly disciplining my mind to understand this great exchange...I have Christ and Christ took all of my sin and penalty. But there is still so much of the "old nature" in me that God must remove and that comes about through suffering, chastening and discipline. But in the midst of this, we have something greater than any "temporal suffering"... we have the promises of Christ to be fully grasped in eternity AND the joy of experiencing Him now presently. Jesus was just as committed to suffer in His Father's hands as He was to rejoice in His Father's hands. The hands that brought the suffering would also bring joy and relief.
Everyday for Christians should be a day that is eternally focused...I had a great pastor once tell me "every decision you make Janet, is either a temporal one or eternal. Choose the eternal"
I think about that often...being earthly bound but eternally focused. That perspective looks at everything from the High View of God. When we enjoy, meditate and move through life with that perspective we can move through the valley.
"My son do not despise the Lord's discipline
and do not resent His rebuke
because the Lord disciplines those He loves
as a father, the son He delights in"
Discipline is a central part of a Christian's life. We are called to "suffer with Christ". But Christians are partakers of a great exchange...the unrighteous for the righteous. This is something the world does not have. The world has the same suffering but it is without redemptive purpose...it is a consequence of sin. Sin is continually unwidding this earth. But for Christians, a sinner's life is exchanged for a godly life through the cross. I find myself constantly disciplining my mind to understand this great exchange...I have Christ and Christ took all of my sin and penalty. But there is still so much of the "old nature" in me that God must remove and that comes about through suffering, chastening and discipline. But in the midst of this, we have something greater than any "temporal suffering"... we have the promises of Christ to be fully grasped in eternity AND the joy of experiencing Him now presently. Jesus was just as committed to suffer in His Father's hands as He was to rejoice in His Father's hands. The hands that brought the suffering would also bring joy and relief.
Everyday for Christians should be a day that is eternally focused...I had a great pastor once tell me "every decision you make Janet, is either a temporal one or eternal. Choose the eternal"
I think about that often...being earthly bound but eternally focused. That perspective looks at everything from the High View of God. When we enjoy, meditate and move through life with that perspective we can move through the valley.
"Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly
Thou has brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights,
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.
Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to posses all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.
Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from the deepest wells,
and the deeper the well the brighter the stars shine:
Let me find thy light in my darkness,
thy life in my death
thy joy in my sorrow
thy grace in my sin
thy riches in my poverty
thy glory in my valley"
From The valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions
I pray those of you who are in a valley to look up! Those who may be experiencing God's discipline or chastening to know it is because you are His! We all experince His chastening just as an earthly son experineces his father's discipline. Those who are suffering because of the sins of others, know the Lord Jesus suffered the same way...He will comfort you.
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