Discipline

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12:11 ESV

For some reason Christians don’t think we should have to endure discipline. What kind of Father would God be if He did not discipline us. Everyone of us goes astray at times and needs to be brought back in line.

The Hebrew writer says that God’s discipline bears peaceful fruit. If we think about it, that really is true. We all know that an undisciplined life is an unhappy life. Just think of children you know that didn’t receive good discipline while growing up. In the long run they don’t lead very happy lives. But, those that are raised with good discipline live much happier lives. Disciplined people are happy people.

Most of us are more than happy to accept forgiveness from God. We must accept His discipline as well. It is out of love that He disciplines us. He does it so we can be happy and complete.

Discipline is only effective on those that accept it. When one balks at discipline they find their situation worse instead of better. So today, let’s be just as willing  to receive God’s discipline as well as His forgiveness.

© 2013 Leo J. Woodman

His face was like the sun

The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

Revelation 1:14-16 ESV

John is using descriptive words that anyone can recognize to describe the appearance of Jesus. Even though he uses these terms to describe Jesus, his appearance is beyond our comprehension. His appearance is so majestic that words cannot truly convey what Jesus looked like in his vision. This is why John uses the word like six times in this passage. The descriptors he uses are not exact representations of what he saw, but they give us a visual that we can understand.

When we read these descriptions we do get a picture in our minds of what Jesus looked like when John saw Him. The visual we get is quite an intense one. Pure white hair, penetrating eyes, standing firm, a strong booming voice, holding stars in His hand, His words are his weapon and He has a glorious shining countenance.

This passage reminds us of another passage, in the book of Hebrews. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 ESV When we think of this passage in conjunction with the revelation passage we are reminded of the power of the words of Christ. When we think of this in the context of the revelation we can know that the message being shared is powerful and life changing and carries eternal implications.

Certainly the book of Revelation has eternal implications. As we read further along we will begin to see in its context that it has immediate and future implications as well. It is rich with visions, warnings and encouragement. It is a love letter from our savior.

© 2013 Leo J. Woodman