“Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; therefore, do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.” (Job 5:17 NKJV)

This scripture is also found in the book of Hebrews.  Many times, we read it and think, “I don’t like chastening.”  But I believe that this scripture is a “Double-D” verse—we are neither to DESPISE the Lord’s correction nor DESPAIR in it.

How does God correct us?  He corrects us with His Word—His cleansing agent.  Notice that this passage talks about chastening, or correction, by the Almighty.  The word ALMIGHTY in the original Hebrew is EL SHADDAI.  EL SHADDAI means “The God of all sufficiency; the God Who is more than enough.”

As El Shaddai, God came to Abraham in the context of total impossibility.  God said to Abraham, “I’ll give you seed as the duct of the earth.”  Abraham was 99 years old; Sarah was 89.  However, God has the capability of superseding all-natural events—He caused Abraham and Sarah to have a child.

When God corrects you, He does it so that He can give you more than you ever expected.  Let’s receive His correction with love and be blessed by it.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You today for Your correction.  Search our hearts and reveal any wicked ways that are hidden within us.  We desire to walk in Your light.

In Jesus’s Name,

Amen.

But for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15 NKJV)

A life built on God’s truth becomes the foundation for generational blessing, because knowledge of the truth empowers us to make habitual choices that are in line with the Word of God and the character of Christ.

God honors righteousness.

God rewards those who diligently seek Him.

He blesses choices and decisions that honor Him.

A family can choose to follow God and be blessed by God—generation after generation.  A family can choose to obey God, receive forgiveness, and become the very embodiment of God’s blessing to the world.

A family who believes and lives the truth will be blessed.  Sadly, a family who fails to value truth or refuses to receive truth will eventually reap negative consequences.

Prize the truth…seek the truth…reap the truth’s glorious harvest.

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11 NKJV)

The best way to love one another is to love God and experience His love in our hearts.  When we try to love people with our own supply of love, it runs out quickly.  Sometimes people are hard to love.  Sometimes we are hard to love.  But if we go back to His love, we find an endless supply.

I’ve learned that when we begin to act in love—just because God has asked it—our emotions will get in line, and soon we will feel it.

Sometimes it is very difficult to extend love to others—particularly when they have been offended or hurt us.  We know in our hearts that we should radiate that AGAPE kind of love.  But deep in our souls and bodies lies a strong resistance.  That’s when it’s so important to lean on God and borrow some of His love.

Say something good about a person who has said evil things about you.  Begin to speak God’s Word about that person, and your feelings and emotions will change into the love of God.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Today we see that it’s very important to love our enemies.  We should do good to our enemies and pray for them.  In doing so, You can change our enemies and make them to be at peace with us.

In Jesus’s Name,

Amen

Be strong and very courageous.  Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you.  Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left.  Then you will be successful in everything you do.  Study this Book of Instruction continually.  Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it.  Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.   (Joshua 1:7-8 NLT)

At a critical moment in your Joshua’s life, God spoke to him some of the most positive, inspiring, and courage-building words in the entire Bible.

Hearing God’s Word is a lifelong process.  We learn as we go, and we never fully arrive.  There are always enriching new insights to be gained and intimate moments with God yet to be experienced.  This is the “little by little” Isaiah talked about (Isaiah 28:9-10).

For true learning to take place, information must be encountered repeatedly.  The same is true of learning God’s way; we benefit from “soaking” in His Word, from “chewing” on it as we ask Him to reveal what a particular passage means and how it relates to our lives.