Counter Culture: Warn One Another — Wednesday
Hebrews 3:14
For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. (NLT)
When I was a little kid, I Ioved to cause trouble. A lot. I was naturally pretty curious and adventurous, and many of my experiments and excursions operated out of an “ask for forgiveness instead of permission” mentality. I also had a bit of a rebellious streak and at any given moment could be found talking back to my mom and dad. Naturally, causing trouble also led to getting caught, and there were many afternoons spent on the time-out chair in my parents’ living room (and rightly so).
I actually look back at these times of my childhood with fondness. While getting my toys taken away or sitting in the time-out chair for an hour were never “fun” things to do, I will always remember my dad correcting me firmly, but also with lots and lots of grace. In the middle of tantrums and meltdowns in my pre-school years, to heated words in my middle school years, he allowed me to experience the consequences of my actions. All the while—in the midst of correction, discipline, and truth—he always reminded me that he loved me and was for me. Even as a kid, I knew inherently that I could trust him when he was correcting me because I knew he loved me and had my best interests in mind.
In the same way, when we are on the receiving end of correction and discipline—whether it’s through the Holy Spirit’s conviction or the words of a friend/mentor/colleague—we can still choose to trust God in the middle of it all. Of course, there will always be moments when choosing to trust is hard, but God’s faithfulness to us is unmatched. He invites us into a beautiful relationship of trust, truth, grace, and so much more with Him because He loves us. He has our best interests in mind and extends grace to us even in our worst moments.
Wednesday’s Reflection
Do you believe that God has your best interests in mind? If you don’t, ask Him to give you the courage to trust Him. If you do, ask Him to continue to build your trust in Him.