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Bible Readings: Revelation 3:19-22; Psalm 78:23-39

They remembered that God was their Rock,
    that God Most High was their Redeemer.
But then they would flatter him with their mouths,
    lying to him with their tongues;
their hearts were not loyal to him,
    they were not faithful to his covenant.    Psalm 78:35-37

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.   Revelation 3:19-20

 

We all, at some time, suffered the consequences of poor choices.  In a sense, we are disciplined by the consequences.  But it is still up to us to respond to the discipline with a change of heart, not wanting to make the same mistake twice.  So it is with God’s discipline – it is for the purpose of change towards righteousness.  How often have we simply said and did the things that we thought would limit our “discipline” and rescue us from consequences.  The Psalmist (Psalm 78:35-37) accused God’s people of doing just that – trying to “flatter” God with empty words and promises to put an end to “discipline”, but not actually willing to open their lives completely to God’s authority.

Many people have become skilled at saying the right things to get out of suffering the consequences for their decisions – with only an interest in protecting themselves.  Or we have learned to speak the right way to sound more Christian, yet not willing to let Christ have the sole throne of our hearts.  What a tragedy!  To leave Christ standing at the door of our heart. 

“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.”

True repentance is a desire to give one’s heart completely to God.  And it is often as we suffer the consequences for our sin that we may hear the gentle knocking of our Saviour – the one who truly loves us and wants to dwell in our hearts.    

This may be a good time to pause and reflect upon how you respond to God’s discipline in your life.  How have you responded to the consequences of sin and poor choices you have made?  Are you more interested in “getting out of trouble” than using these times for repentance and growth in Christ?   What might God be showing you today? Do you hear his knocking?  Will you open the door and invite Christ in to sit with you, to teach you and guide you?