" SOMETIMES REBUKE IS NECESSARY "

My very best to you and yours, I sincerely wish you all that our Lord and God has to offer. Are you seeking after the Lord these days or are you Luke Warm to the things of the Lord? Sometimes we just need someone who cares about us to speak up. Are you aware that Jesus Christ is coming back, yes His Second Coming will be at any moment. Those of us who know the Lord as our Personal Savior and seeking after Him daily our eternity will be secure.

Now, God's purpose in discipline is not to punish, but to bring people back to him. He may discipline to help you out of your uncaring attitude, but he uses only loving discipline. In the Bible, usually correction is given by God the Father to all of his children. Discipline often takes the form of difficulties allowed and or caused by the Father to bring about improvement and maturity in our lives. " FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES.

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 " (Heb. 12:7)?

Sometimes Rebuke Is Necessary, but it must be used with caution. The purpose of any Rebuke, Confrontation, or discipline is to help people, not hurt them. METHOD OF DISCIPLINE: Be Firm and Bold; Affirm all you see that is good; Be accurate and honest; Know the Facts; Follow up after the confrontation; Be gentle after being Firm; Speak words that reflect Christ's message, Not your own ideas; Use discipline only when all else fails.

It's never pleasant to be corrected and disciplined by God, but his discipline is a sign of His deep love for us. How do you react to discipline, we all respond to discipline in several ways: (1) We can accept it with resignation; (2) We can accept it with self-pity, thinking we really don't deserve it; (3) We can be angry and resentful toward God; or (4)We can accept it gratefully, as the appropriate response we owe a loving Father.

" DISCIPLINE YOUR SON WHILE THEIR IS HOPE ". Are you responsible for the discipline of a child, a student, or an employee? Three important points will help you carry out your responsibility: (1) Let the punishment follow quickly after the offense; (2) Let the degree of punishment reflect the seriousness of the offense: and (3) don't over do the punishment. Discipline that is swift, just and restrained makes its point while preserving the dignity of the offender.

The Lord says those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. Now those who sit on the fence when it comes to the things of God should expert a rebuking from the Lord regarding any indifference toward him. The pleasures of this world, money, security, and material possessions can be dangerous, because their temporary satisfaction makes us indifferent to the things of God.

It's always a blessing to be disciplined by God when we do wrong. We sometimes give people excellent advice only to learn that it does not apply to them and is therefore not very helpful. All who offer counsel from God's Word should take care to thoroughly understand a person's situation before giving advice.

Now, when God corrects you, see it as proof of His love and ask Him what He is trying to teach you.

Until next time...

Jim,