Warfare or Discipline (Hebrews 12:6)
Dear Members of the Our Savior Lutheran Church Email Prayer Chain,

Warfare or Discipline

The Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son. –Hebrews 12:6 

There is a tendency among Christians to view anything unpleasant that happens to them as the result of spiritual warfare. When a difficulty arises, many ask God to remove their distress. But their predicament may have nothing to do with Satan or with spiritual warfare. It may appear far more glorious for us to explain our hardships as Satan’s determined attacks against us rather than admit that we are merely reaping what we have sown and are being disciplined by our heavenly Father (Galatians 6:7). 

What is often mistaken as Satan’s attack may actually be chastisement from our loving Father. If you have neglected your role as spiritual teacher to your children, God may allow them to fall into sin. If you have been dishonest at work, God may correct you by letting you face the consequences. It would be foolish to pray that God would ease your discomfort. God is disciplining you in order to gain your attention and bring necessary change to your life. 

How tragic never to make the connection between your problems and God’s discipline. God’s discipline will not help you if you dismiss it as Satan’s doing or spiritual warfare. Not every hardship you face is the chastisement of God, but Scripture indicates that God will discipline you. 

If you misunderstand God’s chastening, you may actually blame Him for not answering your prayers or for failing to protect you from Satan. Meanwhile, God is warning you of the danger you face because of your sin. Are there difficult circumstances in your life? Could it be the discipline of God? God, whose nature is perfect love, will correct you because He has your ultimate good in His heart.

REFLECTIONS

How has God disciplined you in the past? How did His discipline lead to peace for you?
What is the hardest thing you’re going through right now? How might be God using this in your life?

PRAYER REQUESTS -- Week of March 16, 2008  

FOR THOSE WHO LOOK TO THE LORD FOR HEALING

Mary Rose Crask           Recovering from broken foot from a fall
Barbara Haller                Recovering from knee replacement surgery on Tuesday
Michael Rowan              Recovering from a serious injury to a finger
Gravatte Family             [Friends of the Lindgren’s] health, family, and life concerns
Ty Hassler, Jr.               [Friend of the Lindgren’s] health and life concerns
Logan Noble Rye and Reagan Ann Rye premature infant twin babies of Kim and Jeff  Rye  

FOR THOSE WHO SUFFER FROM CANCER OR CHRONIC ILLNESS

Kim Phillips                   [Cousin of Steve Lindgren] undergoing treatment for breast cancer

FOR THOSE WHO MOURN

The family of Paul Oberhaus, brother of Luther, received a Christian burial this past week. 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. --2 Peter 1:2-8 

In Christ,
Paul Nickel
Director of Christian Education
Our Savior Lutheran Church
 

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