“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent” - Revelation 3:19 (NIV).
Karen grew up in a home where at the snap of her finger she would get whatever she wanted. She had a room full of toys, which cost her parents, a fortune, and of which she threw about carelessly. Whenever she was asked to put anything in order Karen would throw such a big tantrum. At the dinner table Karen would leave the table all in a mess, and her parents would not dare tell for fear of her wild tantrums. “How can we upset Karen when we love her so much!” they wondered. One day they got a maid who started scolding her for bad manners. The maid didn’t last. “Karen gets what she wants,” they dismissed her. “She does what she likes.”
Karen was admitted to school. There she was always in trouble because she felt no one could stop her from getting whatever she wanted. One day Karen abused a teacher for asking her to do her homework. She was expelled. The parents felt the teacher and the school did not love their daughter. They now moved from school to school where again Karen would be thrown out. They were puzzled and felt teachers didn’t love Karen enough. “You need to practice tough love,” said one head teacher as she expelled her.
What is tough love? Some people have a misconception that to love someone they must never correct them for fear of offending them. They insist that that would be lack of love. This kind of belief has also entered the education system where some believe that children shouldn’t be given bad grades for it affects their self-esteem. Love is all about making someone feel good.
Now do you know what eventually happened to Karen? She not only failed to finish school but ended up in jail for law infractions. Her parent’s failure to discipline her for fear of upsetting her ruined her entire life.
Hebrew 12:6 says, “For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” And proverbs 13:24 says, “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.” When we are in the wrong God does convict us of sin through the Holy Spirit and calls us to repent. Sometimes we suffer harsh consequences, so that we learn from our folly and do better. Tough love but with lasting fruits.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, creator of heaven and earth, I thank you for your love for me, which when I am at fault does not hesitate to correct me, because you love me and have my interest best at heart, this I pray in Jesus’s name.
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29/04/2024 - 30/04/2024 All day“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27)
One of the most moving Christian song ever written is, “Its well with my soul!” To hear it sung in cathedrals, concerts or at funerals, always leaves many with goose bumps. It has uplifted many through the most difficult of moments, soothing their weary spirit.
It’s coming into being in many ways show how God so often uses difficult situations to bless so many. In 1871 Horatio Spafford, was one of the wealthiest lawyers, based in Chicago. He was also a devout Christian, along with his wife Ann, and their four daughters. But early in 1871 came the Great Fire of Chicago that destroyed Spafford’s sizable investment.
Devastated from the loss, Spafford, seeking to recover, two years later, decided to go for a holiday in Europe. But at the last minute he was detained by business, letting Ann and his four daughters to proceed, hoping to join them. No sooner had they left when the ship in which they were had an accident and sank within minutes. All the four children drowned, though Anna survived.
Spafford on receiving the news decided to go and pick up Ann. As he got to the spot where the ship had sunk, in his despair came the words that have brought respite to so many, through generations. “When peace like a river attendeth my way. When sorrows like sea billows roll Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say It is well, it is well with my soul... Let this blest assurance control That Christ (yes, He has) has regarded my helpless estate, And has shed His own blood for my soul. It is well...With my soul..
It is well, it is well with my soul.”It is said as Ann saw her daughters going down, she said, “God gave me four daughters. Now they have been taken from me. Someday I will understand.” And, indeed, “It is well with my soul” was God’s gift to all of mankind through a tragedy.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of heaven, sometimes through tragedies, it is difficult to understand or appreciate the moment; but as the song goes, whatever the difficulty may be, “Its well with my soul” for you are with me, no matter! This I pray in Jesus’ name!
