Rob Parker's Blog

Correction, A Sign of Love

No one likes to be corrected. Our kids dislike it when we see them doing something they should not be doing and discipline them. We don’t like it when others point out areas in our life that need correction either.

Proverbs 13 highlights the importance of correcting our children. It also says in verse 1, ” a mocker refuses to listen to correction.” Lets ask ourself why we do not like to be corrected yet are quick to point out others faults?

In Matthew 7:1-5, Jesus tells the parable of the speck of saw dust and the log of wood. In this parable Jesus confronts the sin of judging. He tells his listeners to not be concerned with the speck of sawdust, the little issue someone is dealing with. Be more concerned about the log of wood, major issue you are dealing with.

Do not fear correction. Allow God to reveal anything in your life that is keeping you from experiencing the fullness of life GOD has for you. Even more importantly when we correct our children it is because we love them. When God corrects you we are told in Hebrews 12:6, “For the LORD disciplines those he loves.”

Telling the Truth

Before you read this post take some time to read Proverbs 12. There are several verses that speak to the issue of lying: 17,19, 20 and 22. There is something about lying that troubles everyone. Lying is one of those offenses that has the ability to quickly ruin any relationship.

I remember when I was in Junior High and I was lying constantly to my parents. One day when my father caught me in a lie and confronted me. He told me that my constant lying has finally caused my relationship with him to be negatively affected. He told me that I was on the verge of ruining our relationship and he was having a hard time even wanting to be around me.

Ouch! Should a father say such things to his son? Unfortunately the truth hurts. My dad was right and I never realized the destructive power of lying until I got older.

Do you tell the truth or stretch the truth? Is it easier at work to be honest or cut corners?

Allow God today to deal with your heart. Ask God to reveal any areas in your life that you cheat or lie. As God reveals these areas simply ask for forgiveness and invite the Holy Spirit to lead you in a life filled with honesty.

You Do See Me
You are the God who sees me. Genesis 16:13

There are more times then not that I feel as though God does not see me, know me or wants anything to do with me. The areas in my life that make me life this way are guilt, insecurity and desperation. It seems that the times that I struggle with this problem is when I am going through a difficult situation.

Hagar was a woman who was in a difficult situation. She had just been kicked out of Abraham’s camp by his other wife Sarah. She had no where to go and nothing to eat. As she ran away she cried out to God. To her amazement God had met her in her deepest time of despair.

During this time of fasting you may be questioning the purpose of this 21 day journey. You may also be wondering does God even see me or care what I am doing? The answer is simply “yes.” God sees you and knows every moment of your day. It says in Psalms that he knows when you go to bed and when you wake up.

Hold onto the truth of Scripture that God sees you just as clearly as he saw Hagar in her deep place of desperation.

Forgive
forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

This morning three of my kids were playing together. As they were asked to get ready for school one of them decided to grab the other. By that point the one started to cry and yell at them. The reason for their yelling was they did not want to be physically pulled by the other. At that point I stepped into their argument and separated the two.

As I was driving to work today I was convicted by the thought of how I treated one of my younger brothers. I know that the two of us had a conversation in the past where I apologized but this weight in my heart was still heavy. With that I called him and asked for his forgiveness. I told him how sorry I was and to see my kids do this makes me see how wrong it is.

Forgiveness is at the heart of the gospel. Forgiveness is our door into the presence of God. Forgiveness is the only avenue which brings us into a relationship with Jesus that allows us to know him and make him known.

Is there anyone today that you need to ask for forgiveness? Who have you wronged and need to apologize to? As God reveals that individual to you simply call them and say, “I am sorry.”

His Job: Philippians 1:6, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Often I feel like it is my job to make sure everything in my life is perfect, in order and destined to succeed. It is part of my A-type personality. I do everything to make sure my “ducks” are in a row, dot my “i’s” and cross my “t’s.”

This has played a negative role in my personal journey of faith. The reason is because the only role I must play in my relationship with God is obedience. Obedience meaning I allow God to be the head of my life. Obedience meaning I position myself for God to lead me and shape my character. The problem that I and others can fall into is trying to appease God with the things I do and the success I attain.

When a person comes to faith in Christ one must remember that it is God who sought that person out. If it is God’s initiative than it is God’s responsibility to shape a persons character and guide them in the path He wants them to go. The responsibility of the believer is obedience to allow God to change their heart by listening to the changes He wants to make.

Allow today’s Proverb, Proverbs 9, to be a starting point to positioning yourself in obedience to know God and make Him known.