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Weekly Digest: Once a week on Saturday. All Subscribers. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as His children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline— then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it.
How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews The purpose of discipline and trials is that we might have a harvest. What an awesome goal! God is literally conforming us into the image of His Son see Rom. I have come to understand that temptation exists merely as a means for us to be examined or proven. Our temptations are similar to the placing a sword against a grindstone.
The grindstone is never meant to damage the blade; it is only meant to sharpen it. In the same way, temptation was provided for our benefit, to sharpen us. We are never to bow to its wishes; but the very existence of temptation provides us with the needed choices to prove our freedom and exercise self-control. God actually uses temptation to test and prove us. Consider that it was actually the Holy Spirit who drove Jesus into the wilderness so that He would be tempted by the devil:.
It's for us to grow mature. James tells us that the temptations we face are meant to produce fruit in us: "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. They come from our own desires: "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Hebrews tells us, "But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Romans tells us, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Most Read Why as a pastor I decided to get vaccinated Christians in the Holy Land 'at grave risk' - report Banning conversion therapy: a step too far or not far enough? Franklin Graham recovering from heart surgery With the growth of Islam and secularism, how Christian will Britain's next coronation be?
You will always know when you are being tempted. It can be something that you said, and afterwards you realize that you did it out of irritation, or because you were looking for some honor for yourself.
It was your flesh. Then you are consciously putting sin to death: you are putting to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit. You make it right, then you commit to doing it better next time. When you see sin, you hate it and overcome it. Whether it is in the moment of temptation, or whether it is after the fact. These situations teach you to be more awake.
They help you to learn and to grow. In this way you become more and more in tune with God and with His will for your life. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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