Today's Reading: Ezekiel 6
In today's verse, God is speaking about the
consequences that will come to the rebellious people of Israel for not heeding
His warnings. He wants them to know that His warnings were not empty threats,
but rather a genuine vow of what was to come.
Discipline is an important part of teaching children
about responsibility and the consequences of their actions. Consistency is key
in making sure they understand that stated consequences are real and not just
"empty threats." When parents follow through on the natural or
logical consequences of their child's behavior, it sends a clear message that
there are real outcomes for the choices their child makes. This type of
parental follow-through is called “reality discipline” because it emphasizes
the real consequences of one’s behavior and choices.
In the same way, God's “reality discipline” is not
arbitrary. It comes from His righteousness and faithfulness. As believers, we
need to recognize the reality of God's warnings and the certainty of
consequences for our actions. We must understand that His warnings are not “in
vain” nor empty words, but a confirmation of what will happen if we don't respond
to His corrections.
Just as God's discipline comes from His righteousness
and faithfulness, we must recognize the reality of His warnings and the
certainty of consequences for our actions. His guidance isn't arbitrary; it's a
loving reminder of what will happen if we don't heed His corrections.
Unfortunately, Israel continually rejected these warnings and rebelled against
their loving Father. As a result, God explained in Ezekiel 6 that the
consequences He warned them about are now coming to pass.
It's crucial for us to listen to God's warnings because they guide us through life, helping us avoid danger and making better choices. These warnings aren't arbitrary mandates or empty threats; they're loving cautions from a Father who wants what's best for us. He sees beyond our current circumstances and desires to do us good. Let's heed His warnings and follow His guidance, trusting that He knows what is best for us and knowing that if we persist in defying His warnings, He will follow through with some "reality discipline" in our lives.
Note: The term “Reality discipline” was popularized by Dr. Kevin Leman in his 1983 best-selling book, "Making Children Mind without Losing Yours.”
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