God’s Redemptive Discipline

 Judges 4-5; Psalms 39,41; 1 Corinthians 13 

“You have made my days a mere hand breadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath…Remove your scourge from me; I am overcome by the blow of your hand. You rebuke and discipline men for their sin; you consume their wealth like a moth – each man is but a breath.”

Psalm 39:5, 10, 11

Living under the conviction of sin robs us of the enjoyment of life. Some people defy God and live in rebellion, while others are humbled by God’s rebuke and discipline and in the process grow in wisdom. Wisdom begins with the fear, a healthy fear, of the Lord. We recognize the brevity of our lives. We recognize how fleeting and temporal wealth is. We recognize, through wisdom, that we live within limits. We learn that following God’s way is the most satisfying and fulfilling way to live.

How have our choices and the consequences of these choices shaped our understanding of God and where we are to place our values?

How has this understanding shown us where to place our values in life?

How are we responding to the Lord’s rebuke, discipline, and perhaps even scourging?”

God is able to redeem all things in our life, even our sin and rebellion, for our good if we will surrender to him.

“Lord God, thank you for your conviction and rebuke. I choose to live within your ways, for your glory.”