Mr Wilkinson says, “… disciplining is God’s proactive answer to moving you out of barrenness and toward fruitfulness.” (p44) Yet if we are not understanding what God is doing here, we will fight Him, and it will only hurt that much more. We might try to avoid His discipline by pretending there is no sin in our life. We might deny it by making excuses for the sin in our life. We might even get angry at God about it, not wanting to let go of the sin in our life. But the only fruitful way to respond to these trials is to humbly come to God, confess, repent and lay down whatever He is trying to remove from our lives.
This author gives us the simple example of a parent who repeatedly tells their young and fearless child not to cross the street. (p38) Like this parent, our Father is reluctant to bring pain to His children, but He loves us way too much not to do so. For our own good, God can’t NOT act. So God allows trouble in order to intervene to help us be able to see what is no longer good in our lives, then help us replace it with that which is good for us. “After all, the Vinedresser has only abundance and joy – not misery – in mind when He tends to a dirty branch.” Mr Wilkinson says. (p39) We are not to doubt God’s Love when He disciplines us. I will leave you today with this wise quote from this powerful book, “The opposite is true. Only if you’ve never received discipline should you doubt His favor.” (p40) More tomorrow…
2023’s Got A Minute? Book Club
January: The First & Best Book Ever: The Bible
February: Love Is In the Air: “The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts” by Gary Chapman
March: Spring Growth: “Secrets of the Vine” by Bruce Wilkinson
<>< Peace, Diane
