Carol Purves

What proof do we need that God loves us? It is His gifts to us but it is also His discipline. This is proof that He loves us. We correct our children for their own good, likewise our heavenly Father.

‘Endure hardship as discipline. God is treating us as His children. For what children as not disciplined by their father?’ Hebrews 12:7

Like everyone I don’t like to be corrected and having my faults pointed out to me. But we need to remember that when the Lord disciples us He does it through love. Because as the saying goes ‘God loves us as we are but loves us enough to make us as we can be.’

‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one He loves and He chastens everyone He accepts as His son.’ Hebrews 12:5-6

In these days of heightened awareness we know of many people who are struggling emotionally. One unkind act or thoughtless word, could push them down further. May every encounter we have with people, every text or email we send, every phone call we make, leave the recipient feeling better.

‘Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds.’ Hebrews 10:24

‘Suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character and character produces hope and hope does not disappoint us.’ Romans 5:3-5

Probably we cannot say it enough times. There is no-one like our God. There is no comparison with any other god. He is so great and so worthy of praise and adoration.

‘How great You are, Sovereign Lord! there is no-one like You and there is no God but You as we have heard with our own ears.’ Samuel 7:22

‘See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God.’ 1 John 3:1

I love the word ‘lavished’. It sounds so generous. God hasn’t given to us grudgingly but lavishly. He’s given so much and so many gifts. So that we could be called the ‘children of God.’ Awesome.

At these times everyone is suffering. No-one is exempt. If we could imagine ourselves in other people’s shoes, we could think where their hurt is and who is hurting. Then seek them out and encourage them. Where we are hurting, by helping others, it will help ourselves.

‘Encourage one another and build each other up. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

‘A cord of three strands is not easily broken.’ Ecclesiastics 4:12

As we are all having to distance ourselves from others at the present time, we realise the importance of working as a team. We pray for the time when we will have more interaction with others.

If we are alone in these times, life will be difficult. We are meant to be in groups and families. People who have no family of their own, can belong to God’s family as part of the church.

‘Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labour.’ Ecclesiastes 4:9

More and more I’m finding the importance of perseverance. Maybe we commit to contacting someone regularly, but then we forget or are too busy. This means no perseverance. What about the promise we made to read the Bible regularly? It becomes too difficult and we stop. Perseverance is continuing when things are difficult.

‘If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.’ John 15:7