Love, Truth, Discipline

Monday, August 25, 2025

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-the knowledge of Your kingdom and Your righteousness. Fill my consciousness constantly and complete Your joy in me as I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name…

Memory verse: Jeremiah 15:19 ESV

Therefore thus says the Lord: “If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them.” 

Verse of the day: Psalm 119:165

165 Great peace have those who love your law;    nothing can make them stumble.

Daily reading:  Psalm 119:1-88 1 Corinthians 7:20-40

Love, Truth, Discipline

When our children were small and coming up, discipline was a must. All forms of discipline from an adult to a child must be done in love and in truth. This is why discipline cannot be done in anger without truth and in love.

Before Jesus drove out the money changers from the temple, the scripture says in John 2:15 that “He(Jesus) made a whip out of chords.” I have always marveled at this statement. When I was angry enough to ‘turn over tables’, I never took the time to think before I responded in my anger-but Jesus did. He made a whip. (This is in contrast to the village in Samaria who rejected Jesus and the apostles wanted to call down fire from Heaven-Jesus rebuked them and-walked away- went to another village. Luke 9:53-56)

His anger was a holy anger but in love for His Father and His Father’s house. He could not walk away. He made a lot of people angry and hurt a lot of feelings but He saw no other way to make such a statement.

This is the message to us: Whatever we do in the name of Jesus and the Kingdom of God, if God’s righteousness demands it, we carry it out.

Why this message? We live in a day when people wear their feelings on their sleeves and the word of God will hurt plenty of feelings when it comes against someone’s chosen way of life. This is why it is so important for us to deliver God’s message of judgment against sin in His pure love and truth.

The message we deliver in word and deed must be motivated by God’s truth in God’s love and not motivated by rules and quotas or feelings. The word of God will always be rejected by the enemy’s world but true love cannot be denied. It can be rejected-but not denied.

The mind of Christ-the fruit of the Spirit-love, joy, peace...self-control...

Know God’s heart-know your own heart-tell God you want only to be motivated by His love and truth and not by anything else.

...because He loves us, He will do it…

Father in Heaven,

I do want to hallow Your name and be aware of Your kingdom. I do want to do Your will-forgive my weakness. Give me the desire I need for today. Lead me away from selfish anger and judgment.

God of all wisdom and truth in love,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen