Anticipated Discipline

I used to hate it when my Dad sent to my room and told me that he would be in later to deal with me. I knew at that point that I was in big trouble. The waiting made things worse on me, but worked greatly in his favor. The anticipation of discipline was sometimes worse than the discipline itself. As a parent, I’ve often used this tactic to encourage repentance and confession as well as the taking of responsibility of behavior.

The Egyptians were on the Lord’s hit list of nations who had been depraved in their behavior. They had been warned time and again. Check this out…

18 Dark will be the day at Tahpanhes

    when I break the yoke of Egypt;

    there her proud strength will come to an end.

She will be covered with clouds,

    and her villages will go into captivity.

19 So I will inflict punishment on Egypt,

    and they will know that I am the Lord.’” (Ezekiel 30:18-19 NIV)

I would be wise to follow the Lord’s directives and directions for my life. If I decide to not follow Him, I can face the discipline that is deserved on my part. I think sometimes it’s easy to drift or go my own way rather than stay in step with the Lord’s plan. It seems that everyone else is doing what they want, when they want. I must keep my eye on the eternal prize of life everlasting. My choices today matter for not just today, but for eternity. To avoid the discipline of the Lord, I should honor and obey in the first place.

Pressing On!

Dwayne