"For Whom the Lord Loveth He Disciplines" # 4

The Discipline of Guidance:

Proverbs 3:5-7; Acts 16:6-10

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths ... Then they passed through Phrygia and the Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the Word in Asia. And having come down to the borders of Mysia, by a trial-and-error method they kept on attempting to discover whether it was right to go to Bithynia. But the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them to do so. And having skirted Mysia they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul during the night. A certain man, a Macedonian, was ... saying, Come over into Macedonia at once and give us aid. And ... immediately we endeavored to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to tell them the good news, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Discipline of Obedience:

Hebrews 5:8; Phil. 2:1-8

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered ... Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, Who ... emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men... He humbled Himself by becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross.

The Discipline of Shame, Reproach and Slander

1 Peter 2:20-23

For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.

The Discipline of Others Seeing and Knowing Your Faults and Sins:

Psalm 51; Luke 22:24-34, 61

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that they faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto Him, Lord, I am ready to go with Thee, both into prison, and to death. And He said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest Me. Then, after Peter denied Him three times and the cock crew, the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

The Discipline of Humbling:

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

~T. Austin-Sparks~

(continued with # 5)