Sin Replaced by Discipline…Seeking Peace

No dicipline 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. (Hebrews 12:11 NIV)

Understood

One of my favorite furniture stores is closing. What has always intrigued me of this store: family owned, unique pieces, and a building ready to collapse. Over the years, updates stopped. When my husband and I first visited this store, we honestly did not know if furniture was new or used. Then more we walked and gathered information, we understood. Yesterday, buckets were placed around building to collect rain water coming through roof. I thought…how sad.

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This is an engrained image in my mind how one’s soul becomes when never attended. As expensive furniture sat in this store- jewels of knowledge and robes of righteousness are prepared for those who accept Jesus Christ as Savior and understands His Supremacy as King. Yet, without nurturing spiritual growth, wisdom, knowledge and understanding fades away to non-existant. Exactly like closing store doors for last time, never to have unique findings carefully selected by store owner.

Sin or Freedom?

Growing spiritually is a process, passing through seasons. Not all seasons are same, and discipline is different for each believer. To recognize spiritual discipline is normally a 20/20 hindsight. Experiencing is painful, quite unpleasant. Therefore, today’s message floats throughout the world…no consequences to sin, live like the world. God is love, dismissing God is wrath. Tuning our senses to be aware of the Holy Spirit’s attempt to help through conviction, turns us away from sin. When turning away from sin- we have freedom to run to Jesus.

Peace

If looking for peace-it’s found through maturing in Christ. Accepting God’s discipline equips us for the very purpose we were designed. It’s like training for a marathon. Runners in the Boston Marathon began long before training their physical to sustain self through entire race. How has endurance developed for spiritual maturity; handling life’s punches as well as successes? God’s righteousness is good- it’s when we replace God with self causes problems.

Moving Forward!

It’s Forward Friday! Let’s move forward building spiritual strength to endure this race called…life. It’s definitely better to approach each day with God’s peace in the midst of uncertainty. Let’s clear societal confusion by developing spiritual maturity.

Be encouraged!