Psalm 30:1-5
I will exalt you, O LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. O LORD, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit. Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
Have you ever experienced God's discipline? When God is disciplining us, it is not his intention to let us perish, but to call us back to him. It is just like when we discipline our children: Sometimes the discipline is harsh. But in your heart you yearn for the child's return. Moreover, when the child indeed returns, what a wonderful joy! In the same principle, God permits us to be disciplined by his hand, because we often go astray from Him willfully, wanting to choose our own way. Had it not been God's discipline, I am afraid that we would not have returned to God, just as was told in the story of the prodigal son.
When a prodigal son left home. He believed that he was free, and that on his own, he can find his own way. Never had he expected when he walk into the world, not only did he lose all of his money, but also his peace and happiness. In the end, he was down to work as a swineherd. He didn't even have pigs' left over. We see that God allowed the circumstance to befall on him. This was God's disciplining of him. But the disciplining was not intended to cause his demise, but to give him an opportunity to repent. Bible thus says that the prodigal son remembered that his father having much bread, cows and sheep. Would he rather die of hunger there? The prodigal thus decided to rise up and return to his father's home, even just to be his servant. When he had the will of returning to God, we saw the utter most joy of reuniting with family.
Brothers and sisters, may God let us see that when he is disciplining us, His heart is good. His anger only lasts a moment. Don't be afraid. Keep a joyful heart. Return to Him. His grace lasts life-long. Should you really understand, you will return to God in haste. Do not let fear control you. You shall receive all God's tender love. If you are in a circumstance of being away from God, I encourage you to return to God today! Even though sometimes you may feel that God's discipline is harsh, the moment you return you will immediately feel His tender love, abundance and grace!
Pray with Pastor Tong
Lord, may you let us return to you. Make us be fearless and let us bring all our needs to you, for your anger last only a moment, but your grace lasts a lifetime. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.