The Hand on Your Shoulder

“consider the discipline [chastening, KJV] of the Lord your God, his greatness, his mighty hand and his outstretched arm…For your eyes have seen all the great work of the Lord that he did.”

―Deuteronomy 11:2,7

Today I reflected on the discipline of God. 

The temptation, when thinking of God’s great work, is to think of his mercy and grace or miracles of healing and deliverance.  But we must not forget his great commitment to the honor of His name and justice and righteousness.  

God is not to be trifled with.  Our actions have consequences. 

Extremes clarify.

For example, Mother Theresa’s extreme commitment to a life of selfless service shows us the power of service and the influence it can have.  Of course the prosperity gospel people do not use her as a model, for her life also shows that selfless service in the name of God doesn’t guarantee wealth and prosperity here on earth.

Adolf Hitler is another extreme.  Like Lucifer, he exalted himself against God and for a season appeared to prevail.  But oh the cost!  And in the end he fell mightily and destroyed his nation and convulsed the world into untold suffering and calamity.

You and I live our lives somewhere in the middle of these two extremes.  Every day we make decisions and exert our free will. 

But remember God’s discipline. 

God’s laws and standards will not be broken without consequence. 

Years ago I heard a preacher say, “Every flat tire is not the result of an attack of the Devil, sometimes its just a nail.” 

In the same way, every time we find ourselves in a painful and difficult situation it is not always the Democrats or the Republicans or our boss or some other sorry fellow or gal.  I suspect, more often than not, it is the firm loving hand of our righteous God on our shoulder reminding us that we’ve gone astray from his precepts and the current path we’re taking will not end way.

Better discipline today than destruction forever.

Remember the discipline of the Lord.

The ONE THING for today: (Prayer) Father God, teach us humility.  Help us to submit to the yoke of your will and ways so that we can be truly free.  Hold us accountable, do not let us drift, keep us close—on the straight and narrow way that leads to life.  All for your glory and honor, amen.