June 30 – Daily Devotional

31 May June 30 – Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE BOOK OF HEBREWS

GOD DISCIPLINES THOSE HE LOVES

Hebrews 12:7-8 “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.”

Who likes discipline?  Who likes hardships?  You, nor anyone else intentionally chooses to bring hardships, challenges, and difficulties into your life.  You will do all you can to avoid them.  If this is true, then it is no wonder why people wonder why God permits bad things to happen to good people.

Yet, the Bible in any number of instances tells of God permitting bad things to happen to good people, such as Job, Joseph, Elijah and so many others.  The following footnote in the Large Catechism is helpful in understanding why God permits hardships to come into your life.  “Wrath and grace go hand in hand with God.  Because God loves all that He has created, He is not indifferent to evil in the world and in us but is affected by it— yes, even grieved by it and its damaging effect in our lives.  Much as physical pain is beneficial because it reveals injury and a need for heling, God’s just holy wrath is beneficial for us Christians because it discloses sin and the need for forgiveness.  It not only shows us that our relationship with God is damaged but also shows us what needs to be undone and done for us to enjoy the blessings of our life with Him and with others.  God’s wrath discloses our sins and leads us to acknowledge and seek His grace.” (Large Catechism, page 468, note 60)

This quote is just another way of telling you how much God loves you.  He shows you His wrath and brings His discipline to bear upon your life to cause you to see your sin and need for Jesus your Savior.  Discipline is a good thing!  God’s discipline is for your spiritual good to bring you to repent, confess your sins and beg Him for His forgiveness for Jesus’ sake.  God disciplines you because He loves you so much that He your Heavenly Father wants only what is best for you now and for all eternity.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me so much that You discipline me.  Discipline me for my good.  Amen.

The Law of God is good and wise And sets His will before our eyes,

Shows us the way of righteousness, And dooms to death when we transgress.

Its light of holiness imparts the knowledge of our sinful hearts

That we may see our lost estate And turn from sin before too late.

To those who help in Christ have found And would in works of love abound

It shows what deeds are His delight And should be done as good and right.

But those who scornfully disdain God’s Law shall then in sin remain;

Its terror in their ear resounds And keeps their wickedness in bounds.

The Law is good; but since the fall Its holiness condemns us all;

It dooms us for our sin to die And has no pow’r to justify.

To Jesus we for refuge flee, Who from the curse has set us free ,

And humbly worship at His throne,  Saved by His grace through faith alone.

(LSB 579)