Hammering Out the Flaws of Character
Psalm 119: 73-80
Verses 75-76 I know, Lord, that Your laws are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. May Your unfailing love be my comfort, according to Your promise to Your servant.
As we talked about yesterday, we know that God formed us detail by detail to be the person He wants us to be for work in His kingdom, but as His children that also means the hard parts of forming our character.
We talked a few days ago about the necessity of discipline and though none of us find it particularly delightful we can, and should, come to the point of finding it beneficial. He doesn’t correct us for the joy of discipline but rather because of His incredible love for us. There are those who say that they can’t discipline their children because they love them too much when in fact the Bible says that a parent who doesn’t correct their child actually hates the child (Proverbs 13:24).
While this proverb seems harsh it reveals the truth behind God’s discipline of us. He cares so deeply for us that He can’t just sit back and watch us make sinful choice after sinful choice. God knows that if He just let us make any choices we want without correction we would just continue to make more bad choices and it would interfere with His relationship with us.
A parent who constantly bails their child- out of situations is stunting the growth of that child’s character. Just as a metal-smith must keep hammering at a place that won’t bend to his design, God must keep working out the rough spots in our life to bring us to the usefulness He needs from us. Just as the artist keeps working his metal to make what he has envisioned, the Lord keeps working on us shaping us into His desired version of us.
The psalmist sees this tough love as a special gift from the Lord and makes it his prayer that this special love of the Father be what comforts him as he is corrected. Like a parent correcting the child and then wiping away their tears and giving them a hug to let them know that they were disciplined because of a love that wouldn’t allow them to continue in a direction that would lead to them drawing away, the Lord holds us close in discipline so we can know it flows from His heart of love not His wrath.
Making It Personal
When have you felt the hammer of God’s discipline? How did that discipline shape you into a fruit-bearing follower? What needs to be hammered out of your life today?
Making It Personal Kids
Do you like to get disciplined? When do you get disciplined? How can you keep from getting into trouble?
Closing Prayer
Father, You love us with the pure love of a Father. Thank You for that love. Give us eyes and hearts to see where there is sin in our life that needs addressing and help us welcome Your discipline in the matter. In Jesus’ name, amen.