DAY 197- BIG PICTURE IN A YEAR - THE WILDERNESS
Reading: Deuteronomy 1: 26 – 33; James 1: 2-4; Hebrews 12: 5-7
Over the last few days, we’ve looked at how most of the people responded to God’s Word during their Wilderness wanderings – idolatry, sexual immorality, testing Him and grumbling. The end result was outright disobedience.
Note the progression of negativity that Moses records in our Deuteronomy reading for today – first they were unwilling, then they openly rebelled, then they accused God of being evil. It makes my heart beat faster to think of sinful, darkened people treating God like that. These are all dangerous and unhelpful responses to God’s Word.
If this is how NOT to do it – how should we respond to God’s Word?
In our James reading for today, we find very practical instructions regarding this issue – and I am going to unpack these for you over the next few days.
James begins by telling us something we really need to take on board – that discipline and correction from the Lord is INEVITABLE. It’s part and parcel of being a child of God. Unless you are already perfected (I think you know that you’re not) then you will feel God’s re-shaping (aka, discipline) in your life.
James goes on to encourage us by telling us that this happens precisely because you ARE a child of God. For that reason, we should not respond in the following ways:
- make light of it (vs 5)
- lose heart/become discouraged (vs 6)
Instead, we should:
- endure (vs 7)
I don’t want to alarm or disquiet you, but it’s no exaggeration to say that most of your Christian life will comprise of being disciplined, of being given opportunities to take off the old man and put on the new man in Christ.
It’s supremely important that you understand and apply James’ message. You don’t want to waste a single opportunity to respond with faith, to God’s work in your life.
Prayer
I don’t want to waste any opportunity to learn and grow. Help me Lord.
For the family
Have a discussion about the way in which we should respond to God’s Word.