Scripture for Today: Hebrews 12:11 “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”

This morning I had wild blackberries on my cereal!  I had no idea that the thorny weed I had been meaning to pull out would bear fruit!  I have been annoyed brushing past it but I kept putting off doing anything about it.  Now, I am glad I procrastinated!  Those berries were a sweet surprise!  Getting at the fruit was difficult without getting stuck on the thorns, but well worth the effort.

Our verse for today speaks of fruit as well; the fruit of righteousness.  It comes as a result of thorny sorrowful discipline.  Every believer goes through it from time to time.  The Lord disciplines those He loves.  And He does it for our good so that we can share in His holiness (Heb. 12:6 &10).  It is not exacting punishment as He took that on Himself at the cross.  His discipline is proof that He loves me and that I belong to Him (Heb. 12:8).  He uses it to correct and teach.  Nevertheless, it hurts.

Probably, when He is in the process of disciplining me, I resemble that thorny weed.  I wonder if other believers look at me and think I need to be pulled out of there!  Do I sometimes look at other believers the same way?!  We are all in process of becoming like Him and becoming more fruitful.  He is patient and loving with me and I need to be the same way with others!

I am thankful that at the end of sorrow, there is joy at seeing what He has produced!  As much as it hurts, thank you, Lord, for Your loving discipline.

Scripture for Today:  Genesis 2:24  “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and shall become united and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

Paris can be so romantic!  This newlywed couple makes a pretty picture posing in front of the pyramid at the Louvre.  But when I see a pyramid or any triangle, my mind goes back to the counsel we received as young newlyweds.  It is counsel that we have passed on to many other couples just starting out.

Our verse for today talks about becoming one.  Marriage can achieve that on so many levels.  For a believer who marries another believer, there is the potential to be united at a deeper level than non-believers can realize.  When we can share our relationship with Christ, a different kind of closeness is possible.

The triangle’s three sides represent the husband, the wife, and at the apex, the Lord.  There is the line at the base that connects man and wife.  Sharing life together, learning each other’s likes and dislikes, enjoying intimacy, these all make up that connecting line.

Both the husband and wife have their individual relationships with the Lord.  We each have our own struggles with obedience and growing faith.  But as we move along that line towards the Lord, the apex of the triangle, we also are actually moving towards each other!

I never feel closer to my husband than when I hear him pouring out his heart to the Lord when we pray together.  I feel our oneness when we together serve Him in some way.  When we share our struggles with trusting Him, I feel this oneness.  When we admit our failures and together ask Him for forgiveness, I feel this oneness.  Thank you, Lord, for making us one!

Scripture for Today:  Proverbs 22:5  “Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards himself will be far from them.”

I saw this thorny cactus right in the middle of a sidewalk in Fort Worth, Texas.  I guess the home owners there are not too enthusiastic to have people walking by their place!  Having those prominent thorn-like spines was a good way to discourage people from parking there as well!  We parked and walked by even so, but very carefully!

The southwest section of the States has some beautiful cacti with colorful flowers.  The tallest cactus on record is 63 feet and the smallest is .4 inches.   Their spines, like thorns, differ according to the variety.  But they all have one thing in common.  They prick one’s skin.

Our verse for today is a warning.  Those who do not follow God’s laws are at risk to hurt themselves.  It is as if they are running headlong into a cactus.  Their behavior may seem reasonable and even pleasant.  But in fact, the way of those that pervert God’s laws leads to pain.  Rather than see this verse as negative, I see it as a loving warning to spare us unnecessary pain.

So often, the Bible is viewed as  a list of restrictive rules.  In the name of “freedom” one throws off what is considered archaic and old-fashioned.  We feel we are more advanced and enlightened in our day.  Then we are surprised at the pain resulting from our choices in life.  We have disregarded God’s way and instead have embraced a way full of thorns and snares.

I am to guard myself from taking that disobedient path.  That means those thorns and snares are not always so obvious.  Lord, lead me in those pleasant paths of righteousness.