“For whom the Lord loves he chastens….” Hebrews 12:6
You are a wonder, O Lord God, for in your wisdom you always know exactly what you should do. You understand the right role to play in each situation: sometimes as our Savior, sometimes as our Father, sometimes as our Coach, sometimes as our Rebuker and sometimes as our Discipliner.
Your basic invitation to all people is to move from being a child of wrath to being a child of God. You are a judge for all people, for all are sinners, but you want to move from being the Judge of all to being the heavenly Father of all, if they will only believe.
Those who have taken your invitation and have become your children have also been made saints: forgiven, cleansed, transformed into a new creature, adopted into the family of God and are now dearly loved and deeply cared for.
We may be saints in Christ, but we still continue to sin unintentionally and, sadly, sometimes intentionally. In our rebellion and unbelief, however, you are no longer our judge; you do not condemn us in our sin, for we stand in the forgiveness of Christ.
You are now our heavenly Father who, with your Spirit, convicts us, chastens us, trains us and forgives us (Heb. 12:1-17). I praise you that you are the perfect Father, not too lax, not too strict, but an exact balance of grace and goodness on one side, firmness and force on the other.
You are committed to us, to our growth, to our sanctification. Your love and grace means that you will never reject us. Therefore, we never need to be reticent or reluctant about coming to you to confess.
As it says in Psalm 86:4,5, “Rejoice the soul of your servant, O Lord, for I lift up my soul to you, for you are good and ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy to all those who call upon you.”
Your goodness, your forgiving heart and your great mercy continually beckon us into your presence. To you we can confess without fear. Help us to be transparently honest with you and ourselves so we completely confess and be fully forgiven! May we do this to your honor and to bring you joy.
Picture: Climbing the stairs of life in Josh’s city
