“We should be astonished at the goodness of God, stunned that He should bother to call us by name, our mouths wide open at His love, bewildered that at this very moment we are standing on holy ground.”
EZEKIEL 16
HEBREWS 12
5And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”a
7Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
JOURNAL
Reading through Genesis and the fall what really strikes me was the motivation behind it...it came from doubt and a mistrust of God. The desire to want something apart from what God had provided. They were in paradise with everything they could possibly want and the one thing that was forbidden...they disobeyed and consumed.
This is the story of my life...and I guess I find some comfort in that it is also everyone else's story as well. We desire more than what we have and doubt God's goodness and love. To do so always leads me to sin...in one form or another. The interesting thing is that it always begins with doubt. When I doubt his love and then seek contentment outside of today and his love for me today, then I walk roads that push him away for the promise that these deviant roads will satisfy my desires and give me peace, joy and contentment.
What's ultimately so difficult though is to honestly wrestle with my own discontent. To not do so is to lie to myself. This can lead to festering frustrations that can ultimately undo me and those that I love. It doesn't mean that my discontent needs to be filled or squashed but it does mean that it needs to be wrestled with and exposed because in doing so it often reveals hurts and bitterness that must be healed and confessed.
This is the story of my life...and I guess I find some comfort in that it is also everyone else's story as well. We desire more than what we have and doubt God's goodness and love. To do so always leads me to sin...in one form or another. The interesting thing is that it always begins with doubt. When I doubt his love and then seek contentment outside of today and his love for me today, then I walk roads that push him away for the promise that these deviant roads will satisfy my desires and give me peace, joy and contentment.
What's ultimately so difficult though is to honestly wrestle with my own discontent. To not do so is to lie to myself. This can lead to festering frustrations that can ultimately undo me and those that I love. It doesn't mean that my discontent needs to be filled or squashed but it does mean that it needs to be wrestled with and exposed because in doing so it often reveals hurts and bitterness that must be healed and confessed.
In the end, my motivation will be revealed and if my desire is anything apart from seeking to obey God and love others then I'm on a path of destruction. So simple, but so hard. This is why I desperately need grace and forgiveness.
10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
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