Gasping for air

Miracle after miracle! Last night, Lion slept 8 hours! Therefore, I got 6 hours of sleep and I feel great. Moreover, Lion looks like he feels great. God is good and I'm so glad He is granting us rest and peace.

Proverbs 14:²⁶In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence,
and his children will have a refuge.
²⁷The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
that one may turn away from the snares of death.

Proverbs 15:¹⁰There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
whoever hates reproof will die.

Romans 11:³²For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

These verses seem a bit unrelated, but I think God has a bigger message that ties them all together. I am so tempted to just pick one, but then I would be ignoring a portion of what God is trying to tell me. So, in Proverbs 14:26-27, King Solomon says that when one fears God, there is strong confidence and their children have a refuge. More plainly, this means that a Christian's confidence comes from the fear of God, which is a healthy respect and reverence for God. When I fear the Lord, I'm not only able to stand secure and confidently in what I believe in but my children will also learn that Godly fear and inherit that confidence and security. Fear of things in this world only lead to death. However, to fear God leads to abundant life. Solomon also talks about death in Proverbs 15:10 saying that those who hate reproof, criticism for a fault (rebuke) will die. It's a guarantee that if I hate having my flaws pointed out, I will die. This is confidence in myself and not a confidence that comes from the fear of the Lord. Following Christ requires a humble heart, a heart willing to accept rebuke. If I truly fear the Lord, I will love being rebuked. God is also saying that there is severe discipline for those who forsake His ways, but this doesn't mean God just wants us to be punished. In fact, the opposite is true. God desires to show mercy on all of us. Although we all have it in us to be disobedient (we can choose not to do God's will) we also have the gift of repentance and God's grace which was purchased by the precious blood of Jesus.

There is a lot God is teaching me today and I must not shy away from it. Honestly, it's difficult to pinpoint the main idea here, but I'm going to try to focus in on God's message. To summarize, the fear of God is my confidence, refuge, and way to life. In order to keep on this path to life, I must be open and accepting of Godly rebuke and correction. In receiving rebuke, I should not beat down on myself because the real reason for rebuke is to receive God's mercy, not his wrath. If I am faithful to follow this, my children will inherit this discipline and it will be their shelter when trouble comes their way. Lately, I've been noticing just how important it is to rebuke. Correction in love leads to life. For me to despise reproof is the same as saying, "God, I don't need You because I have it all under control." The truth is, I desperately need God. I should always picture myself treading in ocean water. Most of the time, as a Christian, I am able to keep my head above the waves, fixing my eyes on Jesus. Rebuke is that voice calling out from above the water saying, "Come up for a breath!" If I don't listen, I'll drown. Furthermore, if I see others around me drowning, I need to call out to them to come up for air too, or else if they drown, I'll surely feel responsible for not doing anything about it.

Heavenly Father, may this visual image stick with me forever. May I never take for granted the gift of Your reproof and mercy. I choose life, my Lord. I ask that You forgive me for thinking that I have it all together. Please keep me humble and dependent on You. Jesus, I love You. Thank You for paying the price so that I may have abundant life. Help me to correct those around me in love. May I decrease as You increase within me. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.