I believe there are times in life, when you feel the weight of what God calls you to do. As many pastor's deal with this issue, it continues to be a never ending issue in the lives of so many you work with. Ask just one question: Who is your father and what is his relationship with you? This brings so many different answers. It has been clear for many years in the time we have been here in Mexico, this one of the most difficult things we deal with. Young people who have never had a dad. There are good times of joy and laughter, but with it comes the pain and frustration of correction which not always easy to do. As I say this, I will be leaving shortly to deal with this very issue. I think the biggest problem with having no father figure in your life, is the lack of correction and rules. I am not saying that rules are everything but when you have lived your hold childhood with no one telling you it is wrong to be lazy all the time or coming home anytime of the night, there comes a time where this will have to be addressed. The most difficult thing is how this young person perceives this correction as an unloving action. In their mind frame, to love them means leave them alone to do whatever it is they want to do. "What would cause someone to restrict me or cause me to feel uncomfortable with doing something that is supposedly wrong?"
I ask you does it feel good to receive correction? It says in Hebrews 12:11 (ESV) For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
At the moment of correction, if it is the first time does it still produce the same thing? I would say that there needs to be a clear definition of what true love is before the correction is implemented. I share this with you, to pray for wisdom, godly wisdom in dealing with someone has not been corrected for a very long time. It makes me ponder of the times in the gospels where Jesus confronted the pharisees on how they were living calling them white washed tombs. What would have been like for one of those men to repent and say, "I am tomb full of dead bones trying to convince everyone around me that I have it altogether." No discipline seems pleasant in the moment but painful later yielding fruit of righteousness.
I ask you does it feel good to receive correction? It says in Hebrews 12:11 (ESV) For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
At the moment of correction, if it is the first time does it still produce the same thing? I would say that there needs to be a clear definition of what true love is before the correction is implemented. I share this with you, to pray for wisdom, godly wisdom in dealing with someone has not been corrected for a very long time. It makes me ponder of the times in the gospels where Jesus confronted the pharisees on how they were living calling them white washed tombs. What would have been like for one of those men to repent and say, "I am tomb full of dead bones trying to convince everyone around me that I have it altogether." No discipline seems pleasant in the moment but painful later yielding fruit of righteousness.
