It's Not a Swear Word

Ask anyone to name their favorite season, and chances are the answer will reflect a time when they can relax, enjoy a vacation, their favorite sport or activity, or simply catch a breath. For some, summer is the best, because time at the beach or on the water is a "happy place." For others, skiing is the best, so they might wish for winter. 

Courtesy of Google Images

Whatever the season, no one will say that they wish life were filled with potholes, downed trees, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, or any other disaster--metaphorically or literally. How often have we heard of someone walking through a personal storm and they express, "I wish I could catch a break."

So many use the scripture that says, God won't give you more than you can handle, and say, "I wish God didn't trust me so much."

Let me be honest. Whenever I do a search for this Scripture passage, I find this: No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV). The NKJV says "beyond what you are able."

This Scripture ought to encourage us in one of two ways: we are not alone in our temptations if we are part of community, and God has also provided the way of escape, so we don't have to be burdened down with the weight of the temptation beyond our ability.

So what do we call the winds and waves threatening to push us into the dirt? Certainly not a vacation at the beach, or a walk through an enchanted forest. Are they temptations from God? Is God mad at us, or have we missed something?

Temptations could be part of discipline, chastening, that God permits in order to mature us. We should embrace them as such. But we must keep in mind, God does not tempt us with evil (James 1:13). It is important to recognize that temptation comes in many forms, and always plays on a weakness or desire we hold in our hearts. The temptation itself is not sin. Giving in to it is.

Courtesy Google Images

Let's take a look at Elisha's ministry. God executed many miracles through this man. When we read the story of the Shunammite woman, someone whose desire was to bless the man of God whenever he came through. Her kindness was met with a gift she had not asked for. A child. When Elisha delivered the message that she would give birth to a son, her response was, "No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!" (II Kings 4:16b)

She couldn't risk hope. It was shameful for a woman to be without children in her day. Her husband was much older and she was barren. The temptation was too much. But Elisha assured her, "About this time next year you shall embrace a son (II Kings 4:16a). And a year later, she'd given birth. Scripture says the boy had grown, was weaned, and followed his father into the fields, then complained of headaches. Later that day, he died in his mother's arms.

Can you imagine? The promised child, here. And gone again. In today's society, she'd have many in her corner crying foul. Elisha's ministry would be in jeopardy, perhaps. The temptation might have been incredible. Smear the man who played this horrifying game with a woman's broken heart ... or turn to the man of God for help.

She arranged to go meet Elisha and bring him back. The Lord hid from him her distress until she spoke to him directly. Then she said to him, "Did I ask for a son of my lord? Did I not say, 'Do not deceive me?'" (II Kings 4:28).

What had she done to deserve this?

The answer is nothing. There is no account of her committing some terrible sin requiring punishment. What she did do was serve and bless the man of God.

This is where we learn about one of today's nastiest words: DISCIPLINE. Hebrews calls it chastening. 

We don't like the word because it comes with the connotation of punishment. But Hebrews tells us, "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by Him. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives. It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons" (Hebrews 12:5-6 NKJV).

So, if my understanding is correct, and this woman did nothing wrong but endured this tragedy, perhaps her lesson was trust. She could rely on God.

Courtesy Google Images

We can learn from Elisha's ministry that God is trustworthy, He can do things no man can fathom, wars can be won with Him fighting for us, and there is more for us than against us (Romans 8:31). There is more provision than we can ask for when we place our hope and trust in His word.

When we follow the ministry of Jesus, we can see Him tell people, "Only believe. All things are possible to those who believe" (Luke 8:50; Mark 5:36; John 17:20). Jesus assures us that He is our answer to challenges and distress. He will provide more than we can imagine when we step out in obedience to His word (Luke 5:4-7).

Discipline is not a swear word. In fact, it's the golden brick path to God's blessing and abundance in our souls. And when we consider the seasons of our lives, perhaps we can change the filter of our lens to see where God was teaching, training, growing, maturing -- disciplining -- us. Spring, we plant. Summer, we maintain. Fall, we harvest. Winter, we store up for spring. Each season takes diligence and good stewardship if we want the next season to produce the outcome we're looking for.

Jesus is not asking us to be perfect to please Him.

He's asking us to trust Him and allow Him to perfect us. 

Some links for further study on discipline:

https://www.gotquestions.org/chasten-chastening.html

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4731333/

https://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/temple/the_discipline_of_temptation.htm

https://bibledictionarytoday.com/words/discipline/

https://www.crossway.org/articles/what-temptation-is-and-is-not/

Until next time, 💜 Karlene J 💜