“Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore, do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds but His hands make whole.” Job 5:17-18 NKJV
Do not put too much emphasis on one biblical doctrine at the expense of another. For instance, God is sovereign over all of creation. He also gives us the freedom of choice. These two doctrines may seem to contradict each other. They do not. The bible describes Satan as the prince of the air and king of the earth. The bible also tells us God is the ultimate authority over heaven and earth. Satan cannot inflict pain or suffering on God’s people without permission. He is a pit bull on a leash. God can let his leash out a little bit. The Lord can also pull back on the leash. God’s greatest judgment is to leave us to ourselves. Left to ourselves we would live in hopelessness and despair in this life and eternal separation from God in the next! The theme of my prayer life has been to plead with God not to leave me to myself. I tried living that way for thirty-two years. It did not work. God answered my prayer. Jesus kept me from shame and disgrace when I set my heart on evil. The Lord also allowed me to suffer the consequences of my poor choices. Jesus let the leash out at times. He pulled back on the leash at other times. At a prayer gathering for men I asked the Lord to correct me. Afterwards a brother expressed astonishment that I would ask God for correction. He said it was a very scary thing to ask. I disagreed. It is scarier to think God would leave me to myself! The psalmist wrote; My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. The psalmist cried out for God’s presence. It is a desire that cannot be fulfilled without His intervention. It includes correction and chastisement. God must bruise us and wound us to have His way with us. Jesus will not leave us that way. He will bind us up and make us whole if we trust Him with our lives! Ask the Lord not to leave you to yourself. Do not despise the correction and chastisement of Almighty God. Jesus may bruise you and wound you. He will bind you up. If you trust Jesus with your life the Lord will make you whole! There is a way that seems right to a man. It is wide, well-traveled, full of potholes and wild dogs. It leads to death and destruction. God’s way is far better. The road is straight and narrow but not free of strife and sorrow. People who travel the road Jesus walked are led safely into the arms a loving God. Which road will you travel? Almighty God is sovereign. You have the freedom to choose! www.joyfor2day.com https://twitter.com/JoyFor2day #Joyfor2daydailydevotional
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Louie GarciaJoyfor2day daily devotional goes out over the internet to thousands of people all over the world five days a week
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