Gloriously Busted

"How happy is the one whom God reproves; therefore, do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.  For he wounds, but he binds up; he strikes, but his hands heal."

(Job 5:17-18)

"Busted!"  Nobody likes getting caught doing wrong.  Nobody enjoys being scolded or reproved.  Some of us have experienced varying degrees of discipline over the course of our lives - from the "slap on the wrist" (basically looking the other way) to being "taken out to the woodshed" (physical beatings).

But not all discipline is created equal.  What comes from a well-spring of anger/resentment has quite different effects than discipline emerging from genuine love & concern.  Enter our passage today from Job 5.  It reminds us that God's discipline is a good thing for us.  Don't fight it!

God has set guidelines for how we are to live.  Rather than believe them to be "restrictive" and "oppressive," God's laws help us live with freedom, grace, joy & purpose!  When we act in contradiction to those standards, we do harm to ourselves & others.  So when God disciplines us (whether we receive it through reading scripture in our own quiet times, or other "more public" means), it's to help restore us to true wholeness (holiness!).  Whether we're pastors or children, God's discipline should never be feared.  Only embraced.  Sure, it will be uncomfortable for a while (no one likes getting 'found out').  But we'll come to know the healing power of being gloriously busted!  AMEN.

Orgies vs. Glory

"Ephraim is joined to idols - let him alone. When their drinking is ended, they indulge in sexual orgies; they love lewdness more than their glory."
(Hosea 4:17-18)

Hosea is such a provocative book! The prophet's message from God uses the image of an unfaithful spouse to describe Israel's relationship with God. It's quite graphic in times, too! Israel is constantly "sleeping around" on her husband, God. Nevertheless, God's love is constant... and Hosea shows multiple times the redeeming power of that love. But today my heart was intrigued by these two verses from chapter 4 describing Israel (Ephraim). In their pursuit of other gods, they "love life" via excessive alcohol & sexual orgies. This should not be a surprise to us today. These two items have been popular for a long time! Alcohol & sex tend to meet immediate needs & mask pain. But the part that really floored me was this: "they love lewdness more than their glory." Wow. God's not scolding them for "being bad." God is saying that they were created for so much more! They were created to express God's glory! They were created to be amazing people... yet they've chosen the easier option: lewdness & immediate satisfaction.

Is the way I'm living truly expressing my glory to God and others? I know at times I also choose to go the "immediate satisfaction" route, though maybe not via these same vices. Nevertheless, God stands lovingly calling me back with His redeeming love. "Express your glory, Jim!" May I have the courage to do just that. AMEN.