Does God punish?

When I was a young boy I got in trouble all the time.   I don’t know what it is about boys,  but they just seem to attract trouble like steel is to a magnet.  My parents did the best they could with the tools they had.  My parents believed in spanking.  At the time I thought it was cruel and unusual punishment.   As a parent,  I employed the same punishment.  I think some children need drastic measures at times to get through to them.  My oldest son now 33,  was extremely had to reach.  He’s turned out OK.  I think his brothers learned from his mistakes,  I very rarely had to spank them.   Now,  I’m not totally opposed to this type of punishment as long as it is done with great care.  I did not grow up with any lasting scars.  I’m really thankful my parents loved me enough to care about the way I turned out.  I love my father and have somewhat fond memories of  being chased around in a circle with a belt.  But most of all I’m thankful they instilled, a respect for right and wrong.

My brother on the other hand has never laid a hand on his three children.  He used the time-out method.  I can say without a shadow of a doubt his children have done very well.  I do think these forms of punishment require more thought, patients, and consistency.  Never-the-less it worked for him and I’m glad for him. 

The only thing that makes me mad is to see a parent that does nothing.  An undisciplined child is the most embarrassing thing I’ve ever seen.  I wouldn’t do it, but I want to slap the parent.  Some would say they love their child to much to inflict pain or “they might hate me if I send them to timeout”.   I don’t think they really love their child or they wouldn’t let them go through life undisciplined.  Undisciplined children certainly will have a hard time adjusting to life. 

Proverbs 3:11,12 says, “My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD,  or loathe His reproof,  for whom the LORD loves He reproves,  even a father,  the son in whom he delights.”  

Have you ever been disciplined by the Lord?   I have,  I’ve been spanked and gone through time-out,  and while I can say it hurts I can also say,  it feels good to be loved.  My Heavenly Father has certain expectations of me, He wants me to be like my Older Brother,  Jesus Christ.   Posted by Steve Waltrip

Heavenly Minded

Many years ago, a pastor, was talking to me about a person, in the church I attended.  The pastor told me, this person was so heavenly minded, they were of no earthly good.  I have often, thought of this comment, while from time to time I have put people in that category,  I would never make that comment aloud.

I can think of a time when I may have fallen into this category.  I can remember as a child wanting to think that mom or dad thought more highly of me than they did of my brothers.  “ Mama loves me more than she loves you“  is the common claim.  I can’t help but think as, Christian adults we tend to think the same way.  We sometimes feel more excepted by our peers if,  they think we have an inside,” heavenly” tract.

Christ spoke many times about this attitude.   The Scribes and Pharisee were often the subject of  His anger when He would talk about being so “heavenly minded”.  Christ, Himself said, the first shall be lasts, and He came to serve not to be served.  I can’t help but think Paul the apostle, had to battle this inward exaltation himself.  He mentioned a thorn in the flesh, that kept troubling him, possibly a reality check, to keep him in his place, ( entirely speculation).

We humans have a natural,  inward desire to be loved.  As Christians we,  naturally desire to be loved by our Savior Jesus Christ.  His love is demonstrated in the verse,  Jn 15:13  “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for a friend.”  I keep in check by reminding myself that,  it’s not about me.

The web photo above is a picture of the cathedral Notre Dame.  It is a beautiful building, I will freely admit,  but God is not influenced by beautiful buildings.  His interest is the hearts of the people that attend.  Posted by Steve Waltrip

Holy Week

The picture above, of Jerusalem came from the Internet.  I’m sure, the senery has changed much over the last 2000+ years.   I wouldn’t dare, try to point out land marks, because I would probably be wrong.  To me, the focus is not necessarily on the city, but what took place there.  The death, berial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Many people return to Jerusalem,  just to be there at this time of year.  Churches, record their highest attendance during Easter and Christmas.  Meny,  for as meny different reasons. I use to be scenical about this boost in attendance.  I’m not anymore,  it may be the only day we can touch them. 

Personally, there isn’t a day, that doesn’t go by that I don’t think about the events that took place that day.   I often think about the suffering.  The humiliation that croud placed on Him   The pain of those nails as they tore into his flesh.  I think often about the Grace of God, that came in the form of a baby in a manger.    I think of these things because, to me, He said,  I did it for you. 

Please don’t be offened, if I say I’m not overly excited about this Sunday, because every day is Easter for me.  Every day I wake up, I thank Him that the tomb was, and still is emty. Halluah!!  I do, how ever think, it important as a nation, to observe these Holy days to remind use in whom we belong. 

One thought in closing: John 20:15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?  Whom are you seeking?”   The first person to see the risen Savior was a woman early in the morning.   Posted by Steve Waltrip 

Stand Firm

Logos is a Greek word which means written down.  We use the term Logo, in the English language, to describe such things as, ex. (a company logo).  They are letter or symbols that are written, on paper, if you will. 

 

Rhema is a Greek word that means, the written word made to come alive.  I can put it into layman’s terms like this.  You’re watching a murder mystery movie, and you are given a set of clues, right before they reveal the bad guy, you guess who it is.  It’s like you put all the pieces together and solving the mystery.

 

That happens to me all the time when I read the Bible.  Sometimes I’ll be reading the Bible and a chapter, a particular phrase, or sentence, will just jump out at me.  That’s the Logos becoming Rhema.  The Holy Spirit has quickened something to my spirit.  Other time I’ll read something and nothing happens, then months or years later I’ll go back to that same Logos and it will jump out at me Rhema.

 

I know this to be true because, before I was a Christian I would read the Bible and nothing would happen.  I might as well be reading a Marvel comic book.  My spirit was not plugged in to the thing of God.  I didn’t have the Holy Spirit making God’s Word alive in my life.    

 

As a part if my morning Bible study, about two months ago I read 1Cor. 16:13  Be on the alert, stand firm, act like men, be strong.  This verse has been in my head for about two months now. Each time I would go back to it, I would see something different. Each week I would have a trial (not serious), that would focus on a particular part of that verse.  Last week, a set of adversities came up, I prayed about it and my answer was, stand firm. This will soon pass.

 

 

Jer. 31:33

…I will put My law within them and on their heart
I will write it; and I will be their God,
and they shall be My people.

 

 

Life without Christ?  Boaring

Posted by Steve Waltrip