“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. Then once they got a maid who started scolding her for bad manners. The maid didn’t last. Karen not only got what she wanted but she did whatever she liked.
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. “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 ever in jail for committing all sorts of offences. 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. God’s love for us is tough love.
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! God’s love for us is tough love.
Related upcoming events
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20/04/2024 - 21/04/2024 All day“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” (1 Cor 16:13)
Tourists who happen to visit Bukingham palace will be expected to notice the King’s royal guards. Dressed in colorful often red uniforms and adorning tall black helmets they stand on guard and no one dare cross them. Elsewhere in life we find guards in all manner of places quite firm on deterring any intruder wherever they may be.
For us Believers being on constant guard is a calling we must permanently observe. And why? Once in the course of his work, “Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns” (Mathew 16:23). Peter had just protested that he would not deny Jesus only to be sported out!
There is something for us to note here. Satan had penetrated the ranks of Jesus and was going through his closest disciple. It is clear that Peter was not even aware that he was being used. Anyway, he found his target, Jesus, was on guard. Immediately Satan was sent packing.
No Believer is immune to attacks from Satan. After all when once the Lord asked Satan his whereabouts: “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it” (Job 1:7). Clearly the guy is out there 24/7 looking for whom to devour. “Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (I Peter 5:8).
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, as you have warned us to be on “guard” help me ever to be on the watch out for the attacks of the enemy and with your word rebuke Satan, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
