February 9th - Reflection

Hebrews 12:7-13 (NRSV)
Discipline and healing
Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline? If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not his children. Moreover, we had human parents to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not be even more willing to be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness. Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.

Reflection
We've been seeing passages about healing this week. Sometimes healing makes us think that everything will be better for now and always. But to get to healing, you must have gone through some suffering. Without the suffering we would not realize the joy of healing. Without the struggle, we would not realize the joy of relief. Without the lessons taught by our parents when we were errant, we would not have learned to obey those things that may bring harm to us. All this is out of love. We feel the pain, we struggle and wrestle with ourselves and God in order that we may learn and understand our selfishness, our pride, our illness and our need for a Savior.

God teaches us that we need a Savior and that Savior, God will supply. Only God can save us. So with sorrow, pain, and suffering, comes joy in the morning as we witness the resurrection of Jesus who defeated sin, death and the devil on that Friday cross. And now Jesus sits in glory with the Father and the Spirit comes to us to lead us and guide us and take us through this life we live.

It may hurt at times, but there is joy. Joy beyond belief. We are learning a lesson. A great and wonderful lesson. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, teach me and show me the lesson you have planned for me today... tomorrow... and forever. I am yours. --- Amen