Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs
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FAMILY DEVOTIONS—EXERCISE DISCIPLINE (No. 12)
The last principle regarding Family Devotions is to exercise cheerful discipline regarding Family Devotions. Fathers must exercise discipline to keep up this habit otherwise the enemy will quickly snatch it away from them. The weakening of the family begins as a result of missed Family Devotions to God, who alone gives us all our daily needs.
I am not saying we should feel condemned if for some valid reason we occasionally miss our devotions. That would be legalism. God honors the willing spirit.
2 Corinthians 8:12 says, “If there be first a willing mind.”
2 Corinthians 9:7 says, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
Psalm 40:8 says, “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.”
The above Scriptures make it abundantly clear that Christianity that pleases God is not based on legalistic discipline, but rather the disciplines that are motivated from a cheerful heart that delights to do God’s will. Jesus recognized this problem with his disciples when he said regarding the discipline of prayer, “The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).
We cannot wait for the flesh to be willing. As long as the spirit is willing we can go ahead and be disciplined to do Family Devotions.
Be encouraged. Colin
I am not saying we should feel condemned if for some valid reason we occasionally miss our devotions. That would be legalism. God honors the willing spirit.
2 Corinthians 8:12 says, “If there be first a willing mind.”
2 Corinthians 9:7 says, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
Psalm 40:8 says, “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.”
The above Scriptures make it abundantly clear that Christianity that pleases God is not based on legalistic discipline, but rather the disciplines that are motivated from a cheerful heart that delights to do God’s will. Jesus recognized this problem with his disciples when he said regarding the discipline of prayer, “The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).
We cannot wait for the flesh to be willing. As long as the spirit is willing we can go ahead and be disciplined to do Family Devotions.
Be encouraged. Colin
