Tag: Discipline

Blind, Naked, and Poor

“Ah, but I am rich;
I have found wealth for myself;
in all my labors they cannot find in me iniquity or sin.”

Hosea 12:8
Ephraim has said, “Ah, but I am rich;
I have found wealth for myself;
in all my labors they cannot find in me iniquity or sin.”

Deuteronomy 29:19
Beware lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit, one who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.’ This will lead to the sweeping away of moist and dry alike. The Lord will not be willing to forgive him, but rather the anger of the Lord and his jealousy will smoke against that man,

Zachariah 11:5
‘Blessed be the Lord, I have become rich,’ and their own shepherds have no pity on them. For I will no longer have pity on the inhabitants of this land, declares the Lord.

Revelation 3:17
For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

How do people get to the point where they determine they need nothing?  “Prosperity!” How do they get to the point where they no longer see need to humbly serve God? “Serving self!”  How are they encouraged out of it?  “The word of God!” What is the counsel of the Lord and how does it come into our everyday lives? “The word of God.”  In Hebrews it says “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” We live like there is no God or that if we believe He exists it is only for our benefit of eternity and a place to run to in times of trials and troubles.  How can we understand His grace, mercy, love, blessings, punishment, and discipline not to mention how are we to be a light that shines in a dark and lost world, or how we are to lead our families, or how we are to be an encouragement to others, or how we are to make disciples, or how we should live to be humble servants, or how can we grow in faith, love, kindness, mercy, grace, gentleness, generosity, godliness, or why we should praise Him….. The answer is simple – choose to stay in His word.  Choose to humbly serve Him.  Choose to honor and glorify Him.  Choose to listen to His leading.  Choose to desire Him.  Choose to obey Him.  Choose to have our eyes opened to see as He would have us see and understand.  Choose to have our ears opened to hear what he would have us hear.  The word of God is alive and active – choose to live and walk in it.

More Than Hearers

These things you have done, and I have been silent;
you thought that I was one like yourself.
But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you

How is God speaking to our heart?  Are we listening for His guidance and leading?  Are we willing to follow what He is telling us?  Do we search His word and feed our soul with it so that we honor and glorify Him?  We must be more than hearers of His word.  We must desire to be lead by Him for His purpose not ours.  Daily put into practice what you hear through His word.  Be more than hearers only – be disciples and servants of Him.

Matthew 23:3
For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others

Romans 2:21
you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself

Psalms 50:17
For you hate discipline,
and you cast my words behind you

Nehemiah 9:26
“Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you

Learning to Wait

Learning to wait is not an easy lesson in our culture.  We want it and want it now.  If we can’t have it now we get impatient, grumpy, or lack discipline to put distance between this thought of want vs need.  We chase after that which is temporary and run past that which gives purpose to our souls.  Take time to seek the purpose God has for each of us; being a servant, loving the unloved, giving generously, speaking boldly, waiting patiently, helping those in need.  Listen, and you will hear Him speaking to your heart.  Be the person who lives and shines the light and hope of Christ.

Isaiah 60:22

I am the Lord;

in its time I will hasten it

Habakkuk 2:3

For still the vision awaits its appointed time;

it hastens to the end—it will not lie.

If it seems slow, wait for it;

 it will surely come; it will not delay

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells

Luke 18:8

Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth