But consider the joy of those corrected by God! Do not despise the discipline of the Almighty when you sin. For though He wounds, He also bandages. He strikes, but His hand also heals. (Job 5:17-18)

A loving God strike? A loving God wound? We first need to understand that love isn’t always what we think it is. Love is not a feeling, love is an action. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. God sending His Son shows an action, not just words spoken. True love includes discipline and guidance and there are times when those are painful, but they are still part of love.

Whenever God disciplines, He always adds kindness with a hope for the future. God knows what the way is for each of us to reach our destiny. His correction and severity brings us life and a relationship with the Master that we could have never known if it were not for His great love and grace.

It is an awesome and a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Our desire needs to be to walk uprightly before the King. Our goal is to seek holiness in our relationship with the Father, knowing that that can only be fulfilled through what Jesus has done for us. 

As we mature in our relationship with the Lord we recognize more and more the mercy and kindness He has showed us throughout our lifetime. Take time this day to thank Him for His love, correction and discipline. Keep in mind that a life apart from discipline is a life that ushers is spoil which is rot. We want to stay healthy in our lives and in our relationship with the Father. Know that whatever measure He takes in our lives that He knows best and He is the God of all gods!

Pastor Michael Cannatello

lazarusministry.com