Anger In The Side View Mirror

ANGER IN THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” – Hebrews‬ ‭12:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today, in the parking lot at the grocery store, I was waiting for a parking spot to open up.  The woman in the parking space I was waiting for, shifted into reverse and started to edge back.  I honked and started waving my arms like a wild woman.  She angrily looked at me through her side view mirror with a look that said, “What’s YOUR problem, lady?”

No doubt I had panic on my face as I shook my head, mouthed “No!” and frantically waved my hands.  There was ample room between our two cars for her to back up, so she stopped her car and opened the door preparing to come and confront this lunatic who was honking and waving.

Just then, an elderly woman, who had been walking behind her car, stepped out of her blind spot.  Suddenly the woman’s look of anger and irritation paled to shock and horror, as she considered what could have happened.  She instantly realized I wasn’t some angry nut. I was trying to protect her and the elderly woman from harm.

The Lord used the incident to teach me something.

When He brings our sin and mistakes to our attention, we commonly will respond in one of three ways.  We can dig in our heels, determined no one is going to tell us what to do.  Proverbs 12:1 takes a firm stand about that response:

“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.” – Proverbs‬ ‭12:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

At other times we receive correction as if we were being told that we are bad, worthless or hopeless. We may even receive it as if the carrot of God’s love and acceptance are just out of reach, and we must work harder to earn them.

Those are lies from the enemy.

“For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” – Hebrews 12:6.

Or thirdly, we can receive it as a gift of love.

The truth is that the Lord already loves us completely.  As His children, nothing and no one can separate us from His love (Rom 8:38).

We are not being confronted about our sin as a warning about the threat of Hell and damnation.  The debt for our sin was paid in full on the cross.

Our sin is exposed out of the selfless, unshakeable love of a fiercely protective Father.  He wants to spare us from unnecessary pain and from hurting others. He wants us to be blessed.

Beloved, if the Lord has disciplined you, celebrate! You are loved!  It may not be pleasant or make sense now, but one day His discipline will be seen in its true light.

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” – Proverbs 27:6.

Father, thank You that You were our very first friend.  To this day, You remain our faithful friend and our loving, protective Father.  Your discipline is always from love, so we will come to repentance. Teach us to see it as proof of Your affection and our adoption.  May we wrap our arms around it and receive it as the loving gift that it is.  In Jesus’ Name ❤️

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