April 17 – Discipline Builds Discipline

“It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?”  - Hebrews 12:7  (NASB)

Discipline is a two-way street. Every true believer in Jesus receives opportunity to grow through the discipline God sends our way and thrive in spiritual growth, stronger faith, and increasing knowledge of God.  Other’s buck against it and end up going the other way. They refuse to learn the lessons God gives them, causing them to miss the blessing and benefit. In times of adversity, says the author of Hebrews, keep in mind that all our setbacks come from God; He is training us in godliness because He has accepted us as sons and daughters in His eternal family. He wants the very best for us. The difficulties we encounter are blessings in disguise, for behind our difficulties stands a loving Father who is giving us what is best. As God’s children, then, we must always look beyond our trials and realize that God himself is at work in their lives training us to trust Him. Discipline that reproves teaches us to have character that is disciplined. It is a sign of God’s parentage of us. It is a confirmation God really loves us for whom He loves, He reproves and discipline. When disciplined, let’s repent and be zealous. 

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February 23 – Taking the Escape Route

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”  - 1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

Being tempted by our enemy the devil has been promised by Jesus (Luke 17:1 NLT) to all who have received Jesus by accepting His gift of salvation and eternal life.  We learned from the first letter by the Apostle Peter (1 Peter 5:8 ESV) to be on the alert because the devil is perpetually seeking to take us down.  But these are God promises in today’s verse. They help us stand firm against our enemy.  1) All temptations we encounter are common and others have experienced them.  2) God is faithful.  3) God does not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to endure the temptations.  4) God always provides an escape route for us.  5) Because we have that escape, we can endure the temptations and we do not have to give in to them.  Next time today, and tomorrow, because it happens to all of us every day, when we are tempted, consider these promises. While the temptations come at us from the devil, the promises are from God and He empowers us to resist them one and all.  Resisting is how we fight the enemy. 

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November 7 – Ability to Endure

“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”  -  1 Corinthians 10:13 (NASB)

Do we truly understand as Christians, our faith in God will be tested? The tribulations, temptations and testing of our confession is always bearable with God's help.  Our promises in this passage reminds us that God is watching over us for our best.  But our best does not mean the easiest path to avoid testing of our faith in God.  Our First promise is that we will never be tested by anything uncommon to the testing people face.  Others have endured the same testing that we encounter in our lives.  Our Second promise is God's faithfulness to protect us from any testing we are unable to endure.  Whatever our test is, God provides what we need to stick it out with His help. Our Third promise is that God will give us an escape plan – not always to escape the testing but to escape the consequences of failing to trust Him and falling instead for the temptation to bail out.  Our escape is the ability to endure and trust Him through it all. 

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