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IBS 56 - Revelations 3:19-20

Revelation 3:19-20
“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.”

I don’t like being disciplined. I don’t like getting in trouble so I try my hardest to not do wrong. To stay away from authoritative figures. The Lord is an authoritative figure, but He’s also Father. He loves me to literal death. He’s not someone I should try to stay away from. And because He loves me, he rebukes and disciplines me. A good parent doesn’t let their kid get away with being disobedient. They discipline the kid because they love them and want them to grow up and behave, be a good adult one day. That’s how God is. He rebukes me because He wants me to live correctly, to behave, and understand. 
I shouldn’t be afraid of that. Because it shows me how much God cares for me. How much He wants me to be closer to Him. Being rebuked and disciplined in the moment hurts. It’s painful and makes me want to quit and leave, but God says “No! You don’t get off the hook that easily.” But after the rebuking and discipline, I’ve changed into a deeper, stronger person. My relationship with Christ is always stronger after and my confidence is higher. 

Through rebuke and discipline God reminds me who He is. The power He has and the greatness He is. It reminds me of how much He loves me. How He sent His son to die for me. How His son endured the most painful death, crucifixion on the cross. How He did that for love. So that He could be with me for eternity. 

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