Jeremiah 46:28 “‘O Jacob My servant, do not fear,’ declares the Lord, ‘For I am with you. For I will make a full end of all the nations where I have driven you, yet I will not make a full end of you; but I will correct you properly and by no means leave you unpunished.’”

PUNISHED

Why is it when we are punished (or if you prefer “disciplined”) that we feel like we aren’t loved?  Nothing is further from the truth.  I remember distinctly as a child dreading my “whoopings” from my dad.  Mom’s didn’t bother me too much, but dad…well…that was a whole different matter.  How could he give me a spanking like that?  Because he loved me.  I knew he did, but at the time, I sure doubted it.

God loves us so much that He will take us to the woodshed sometimes.  He says in our verse today that although He must punish Jacob (Israel) for their sins, He was still with them. He would destroy their enemies.  But first, He had to correct them.

TEACHING MOMENT

I don’t think I need to explain how this verse applies to our kids.  Just do me a favor.  Don’t say, “This is gonna hurt me more than it will you.”  As a child you never believed that, did you?  As a parent, you understand the phrase, but I guarantee your child won’t believe it either.  Lol

Disobedience has to be corrected.  It is our job to turn our children away from evil, sin, or whatever you want to call it.  We are NOT the Holy Spirit, but we do have the responsibility to be used by God to correct our children as He directs.  To do that, however, we must be obedient ourselves.

Does God need to take you to the woodshed?  Are you overdue for a whooping?  Confess!  Make things right with the Father.  He wants to draw you close to Him, not for punishment but for blessing. Let Him.  Don’t let sin come between you.

Father, I confess to You today for _______, which is sin against You.  Forgive me!  I am willing to lay it down and allow You to work in and through me to make me what You want me to be.