We Discipline Those We Love

About a month ago my father passed away. He and my mom were living in a different state, and my mom is unable to drive. My brother and I made the four hour drive, taking turns getting my mom to the hospital to visit. Of course, we were blessed by visiting dad frequently in his last days.

 

Dad’s mind was starting to go, yet he knew he was dying. He did not want to be in the hospital any longer. A couple of days before he passed, he removed his intra-venous tubes and told me to take him home. When I told him I could not do that, he raised his voice and told me again. It was a tone of voice I had not heard since I was a teenager

 

That tone was of a loving father who was correcting his son who had done something stupid.

 

Today’s reading, 2 Corinthians 7:2-16, is about discipline and restoration. Previously, Paul had reprimanded the congregation in Corinth. They were tolerating a fellow Christian who was living worse than a pagan (1 Corinthians 5). Paul told the congregation they had to deal with this problem and how to deal with it.  

 

Paul is now commending the congregation for effectively dealing with the problem. He is also teaching the congregation how to restore this fallen Christian who had learned his lesson.

 

Paul loved the Corinthians and he proved it by not only disciplining them, but teaching them how to discipline and restore fallen members.

 

God loves us and sent Jesus who restores us.

 

God disciplines us too. Sometimes bad things happen to us simply because we live in a sinful world. Other times God is trying to tell us something. When something goes wrong, it can be difficult to differentiate between the two. Yet, that is what we should do.

 

We should look for “kairos” moments, where God is trying to get our attention. He loves us and wants us to follow his will.

 

Three things I know for certain. My dad loved me. God loves me. And only Jesus can take us home.

Rejected!

“Every Sabbath, [Paul] reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, ‘Your blood be on your own heads!  I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.’” Acts 18:4-6

Under the sovereignty of God, there is something remarkable about rejection: it exposes our entrapment in the opinions and acceptance of others as a faux snare from which we have always been free; indeed, it would have been best for all – both captive and captors – if, in the strength of truth, we had commenced from its deception long ago.

Confession: For most of my life, I allowed a desire for the acceptance of others to unduly influence my decisions. Regrettably, this character weakness tempered to some extent my service to Jesus, even though this Son of God, himself, suffered rejection to the point of death for my sin!  Imagine my dismay, though, when a few years ago I suffered a type of rejection from some whose acceptance I had sought. It hurt!  Badly!  But I can tell you now that, not only did Jesus very closely embrace and guide me through that experience, he used it to open my eyes to the false trap of conditional acceptance. I actually am grateful now for that experience, for I found in it a freedom to which, until then, I had been blinded.

While I let the opinions of others stymie my freedom in Christ, Paul exercised his freedom to speak the truth of Christ. In the City of Corinth, he modeled for all of us a confidence that can be ours in the face of rejection ...

Paul persevered. Every Sabbath, every Sabbath, every Sabbath ... Paul tried and tried and tried to persuade the Jews and Greeks that Jesus was the promised Messiah. Despite constant rejection, Paul yet persevered.

Paul doubled down. When Silas and Timothy came to town, Paul then “devoted himself exclusively” to preaching and testifying about Jesus. Not only did he persevere, he increased his focus and effort.

Paul was practical. There is an entire world full of people open to God's love and his Way to salvation for them. Rather than dilute his efforts among the Jews who had intensified in their rejection of the gospel, Paul directed his attention exclusively to the Corinthian Gentiles, among whom there was much spiritual harvest and immediate spiritual fruit.

Living in the gracious and eternal approval of Christ far surpasses the conditional and temporal nature of worldly acceptance. And when others reject us, his close presence becomes even clearer to us.

The snare of acceptance? It's an illusion. You’re free. Walk away.

Jesus goes with you. Always.

Ephesians 4: 1-16

Unity in the Body of Christ

The gifts God has given to us are meant to be given away for the benefit of others.

What is your gift?

Our pastor’s son delivered a message last year that included some of what is contained in this passage. He expanded on it to make it very personal and practical. I will summarize it to the best of my ability, for I believe it is worth contemplating.

Ephesians 4 states: “It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up…”

1 Corinthians 12:12 speaks of finding clarity regarding God’s design for us, and 12:18 tells us our placement in the body is from and by God.

Romans 12:6 summarize once again these expressions of the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts:

Prophecy

Service- always seeking needs

Teaching- Helping people understand biblical truth

Exhortation- Encourager, someone who builds up others

Giving- Giving freely to others to bring glory to God without recognition

Leader- Organizer of people, with a focus on God’s plan

Mercy- compassion, kindness, empathy-drawn to the hurting

Because you are a teacher does not automatically mean teaching is your gift. How then do we identify our God given gifts? We must first learn more about what these gifts are as noted above. We must ask God for guidance and inspiration as to his intended role for us, and we should ask others. We may be surprised at the response we get, but if we search deep within us and reach out for clarity, it will be revealed. The better we understand God’s design for us, the better we can fulfill it. What IS your gift?

Read/Listen to Ephesians 4: 1-16

Power Through Weakness

1 Corinthians 1:17-2:5

We all want to make a difference in this world. We hope to leave our mark upon society in some way that is relevant. When the day comes that we pass on, we hope that kind words will be said about us at our memorial service. We want to be remembered as unique, in whatever way is important to us as individuals. This brings to mind the concept of a headstone and how the dates of birth and death are not the significant part, but the dash in between those dates. The question is: "How did you live your dash?"

So many of us feel as though we have to do something BIG, to be significant enough to matter. Others think accumulating a great deal of money or assets will mean success. Still others focus on just striving to be happy. God tells us that the meek shall inherit the earth, and he always calls on the most unlikely to do his work. There are so many, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus into the world, Jesus' disciples, simple fishermen and laborers became fishers of men, Goliath brought down the giant, Noah, built the ark........ none of these men were influential, noble, or wise by human standards. God uses the weak to lead, the sick to demonstrate courage, children remind us all what is truly important.

No matter who we are, or what this world has molded us into, we are all the same in the eyes of the Lord. We may feel insignificant and weak, but we are relevant and powerful. We may flounder in our own problems and predicaments, but we have the ability to do great things through and because of our trials. We are all here to make a difference, from right where we are. Jesus has shown us the way!