Discipleship

This is Going to Hurt!

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For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. Hebrews 12:7 ESV

Maybe the phrase, “This is going to hurt me more than it’s going to hurt you!” is imprinted indelibly in my memory, because it always preceded several well aimed smacks on my behind. It was not that I questioned the truth my step-father’s intentions, it was simply the fact that I never listened to any of the words that came after, and “This is going to hurt!” So when I first came to this passage in Hebrews my mind slipped back in time to those moments of discipline and I inwardly cringed as I waited for God’s punishment to fall.

But, as true as the fact that we need to be disciplined by our heavenly Father, is the reality that it really did hurt God far more than it hurts us. After all, God is correcting us for things we have done wrong but Jesus went as an innocent lamb to the cross to pay for our adoption into His family. Like Thomas we worry that we have been left out of blessings that we think we deserve. But the good news is that Jesus came even for a doubtful Thomas and as showed him the marks of the nails in his hands and the scar from the spear in His side. It’s as if He looked lovingly into Thomas’ fearful eyes and said, “Stop your doubting and just believe. This really did hurt me more than it hurt you, but it was worth it because I want you to be my son!”

Worshipping our Maker and Shepherd

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Come let us now down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker, for He is our God and we are the flock under His care. Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts… Psalm 95:6-8a NIV

First thing every morning I make my coffee, find my Bible and sit in the same chair to pray. But commendable as it is to be consistent, real worship isn’t about the position or our words. Worship begins instead only as we listen with softened hearts, ready to hear what God has to say.

He is our Creator. All we are and have came from Him. He never asks us to give anything that didn’t come from His hands.

He is our Shepherd. We belong to Him and He will never lead us anywhere that He will not go. Our Good Shepherd has committed Himself to His sheep and true worship is simply a reflection of His great love! So this morning without fear or second thoughts let’s give Him praise!

Our Home at the End of the Way

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 To follow our Jesus one step at a time
 Keep pace with His slow steady stride
 Hold tight in the shadows our dear Shepherd’s hand 
Let the touch of His rod be your guide
  
 We trust Him because with a baby’s small feet
 He walked onto Bethlehem’s street
 And He followed until on a rough Roman cross
 They nailed both His hands and His feet
  
 Till then from the tomb one step at a time
 He walked out to new life the third day
 So you see up ahead that He’s waiting for us
 In His home at the end of the way 

Our Home at The End of the Way by Peter Caligiuri Copyright 2020 all righta reserved. Use by permission only