Instantly Changed

And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. Luke 13:13

I am coming back to this verse this morning because as I have reread this passage of Scripture a few words have jumped out at me…..immediately and made straight. While growth in Christ is a gradual thing, there are times when God chooses to produce immediate change in our life. It is instantaneous and noticeable!

I am reminded of a time when I cried out to God in prayer over an issue in my life and He immediately answered in a powerful way. I have shared before that I was not brought up in a Christian home. From a young age I saw and experienced things no child should be subject to. When I received Christ as my Savior at the age of 14, I instantly became a child of God. That decision redirected the path I was on, redefined my life, and completely changed where I would spend eternity. I took on new interests, became a part of a loving church family, and had a desire to read the Bible. I began a relationship with God Whom I never really knew before. Those things were automatic. They were changes God brought about.

But over the years something did not change. Those things I had seen and experienced from early childhood left me with a sense of shame from which I could not seem to escape. Like a nagging toothache it was always there. I told no one. I simply carried the feelings and disgust with me. I did not know my heavenly Father longed to free me from the load. Several years ago, in my early 40’s I read an article by Lisa Bevere that God used to end my torment. It led me to a time of prayer in which I simply asked God to make me feel clean and pure in all the places I harbored shame and disgrace. I was in the shower at the time, and as the water poured over me I sensed an instant cleansing taking place. I sensed a removal of all that had clung to me for so many years. God made straight the tangled mess inside of me. I will tell you this, even though that was a number of years ago the shame has not returned. The freedom was given by God and has never been removed. I, too, glorify God!

Father, some things we will not be relieved of until we stand before you in Heaven. But I thank you that the release of shame is not one of the things that must wait. I revel in the purity with which You clothed me. It was mine for the asking! Amen.

Inseparable Aspects of Discipline

I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him. 2 Samuel 7:14,15

God spoke these words to King David in regards to his son Solomon. David was nearing the end of his life as well as his reign over Israel. He knew Solomon would succeed him to the throne. David of all men knew what the chastening hand of God was like but he also knew what God’s lovingkindness was like. Unless we see both aspects of God we will walk through this life with a distorted view of God’s love as well as His discipline.

Many times, God’s method of discipline is through human sources. I think of a child being disciplined by his parents, a person standing before a judge or sitting behind bars, a person getting a speeding ticket, a person getting fired, a student being given sentences or detentions. The list could go on and on. Often times we forget that the one handing out the discipline is actually an extension of God’s hand. There are people who become angry with the one who presents them with the consequence for their own choices instead of owning up to the fact that they did wrong. This verse could speak volumes to them if they let it. Any time we do wrong and face the consequences through human sources we can rest assured that God is doing what He said He would do. He loves us too much to let us continue in our sinful behavior.

But I must see the second part of this verse as well. I must understand God’s lovingkindness never leaves. He does not remove it when I sin or when I face the consequences for my sin. As a matter of fact, it is during the time of chastening that I must realize God’s lovingkindness is still present. I remember a time a couple years ago when I faced some consequences for handling a situation wrong. I was new in my journey with Him and I can remember telling Him that I would face anything that comes as long as I knew He was with me. It was during that time that I learned of the graciousness of His forgiveness and the truth of His presence.

Father, for far too many years I missed the last part of this verse. Now the truth of it captures my heart in a powerful way. I love You. Amen!