:: the Knee-jerk Reaction

"In the same way, my friends, you have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to Him who has been raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God. While we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are discharged from the law, dead to that which held us captive, so that we are not slaves by the old written code but in the new life of the Spirit." 

Romans 7:4-6

You know that impulsive you get when someone tells you not to do something? Like if I were to tell you not to think about elephants, what would you think of? Elephants. It's kind of the same thing with the law. When the law tells me not to envy, what is my reaction? I think of a friend's new guitar or that trip to a place I've been wanting to go. It is the knee-jerk reaction of a human to do the opposite of what are told. And when we only have the law, we are slaves to it.

 But there is a force that is stronger than my sin nature. It is God's desire for me. It is Love.

 I've heard it said that a lover will work harder than anybody, and I believe it. I look at Elizabeth Eliot, Madame Guyon, and even Jacob in the book of Genesis working fourteen years for the one he loved. They were people who were willing to serve long years for love. If I'm in love, it is far more likely I will obey what my lover asks of me, simply because I love him.

 There is also a Friend who comes alongside me who encourages me to walk in obedience. When my eyes stray from Jesus, Holy Spirit reminds to turn my gaze back to Him. He convicts my heart to stay steady on the narrow road.

Holy Spirit, set my feet on the narrow way

For I am prone to wander, and o I feel it

Take my heart, Dear Jesus

Seal it for Thy courts above.

:: 6 Reasons Why

Here are six reasons why I believe why I believe in the goodness and necessity of the Lord's discipline.

1.  Proverbs 3:11-12

 "My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline, and do not be upset when He corrects you. For the Lord corrects those He loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights."

2.  Hebrews 12 - the chapter subtitled "God's discipline proves His love" 

You will need to read this chapter on your own. It is too long to type here.

3.  James 1:2-4; 12

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."

"God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him."

4.  James 1:13-16

"And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, 'God is tempting me.' God never tempted to do wrong, and He never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. So don't be misled, my dear brothers and sisters."

 ––– The word used here is "tempted" in every translation I have looked at; ESV, NLT, AMP, KJV, NRSV to name a few, and each time, the word is used in a negative context –– as in, a plot to cause to fail. It is obvious throughout scripture this is not God's intention toward man. His good testing, or discipline (root of disciple), is motivated by Fatherly love toward His children -- to produce endurance, faith, and character. In this context, it is our own fleshly desires, or iniquity, that causes us to sin. God never tempts us to sin. His leadership follows the narrow way of righteousness to life. (Matthew 7:13-14)

4.  James 1:17

"Every good and perfect is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."

––– There is no change in the Father. Therefore, if everything He does is good in the New Testament, then everything He did in the Old Testament is good as well. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). 

 Jesus is Word of God, and He is the One who gave the Law to Moses. He did not come to abolish the Law in the New Testament. He came to fulfill it. (Matthew 5:17-20) He gave the Law, He loves the Law, therefore He would not abolish it. The purpose of the Law is to reveal human depravity and the Perfection of Yahweh. We fulfill the Law by believing in faith to choose the easy yoke of fellowship with Christ.

5.  Romans 8:17

"...and since we are His children, we are His heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering."

6.  Numbers 23:19
"God is not a man, so He does not lie. He is not a human, so He does not change His mind. Has He ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried it through?"

                                                 

____________________________________

I am convinced the Lord is a good Father. I am convinced He loves me. 

And this is why.

Further up and further in,

Sarah Raye Fuller