Fortunate Affliction

October 17

(Psalm 119:67-72 NIV) “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. {68} You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. {69} Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep your precepts with all my heart. {70} Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law. {71} It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. {72} The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.”

(Hebrews 12:5-11 NIV) “And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, {6} because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." {7} Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? {8} If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. {9} Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! {10} Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. {11} No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

The idea that some of our afflictions might come from God is offensive to many. They argue that a loving God would never bring discomfort and pain to those He cares about. But when you look through Scripture, you find many occasions where God afflicted and disciplined those He loved. Beginning with Adam and Eve, God has shown a desire to be involved in our lives -- sometimes in blessing, sometimes in rebuke; sometimes in provision, sometimes in denial. We are God’s children! What loving father wouldn’t discipline his children for their own good? And though affliction and discipline are seldom pleasant, they can produce beneficial changes in us that would not otherwise happen. The Lord has our good in mind, even when the discipline pains us. So when our fortunate affliction comes, let us submit and listen. God’s voice of correction may be speaking to us. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

Midnight Confession

October 16

(Psalm 119:62-66 NIV) “At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws. {63} I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow your precepts. {64} The earth is filled with your love, O Lord; teach me your decrees. {65} Do good to your servant according to your word, O Lord. {66} Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in your commands.”

(Acts 16:22-30 NIV) “The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. {23} After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. {24} Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. {25} About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. {26} Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. {27} The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. {28} But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" {29} The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. {30} He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?””

When we were young, midnight was seen as a magical hour. Staying up until midnight made us feel like adults. As we aged, the hour lost its charm, and being awake at midnight is no longer seen as a blessing. But being awake at midnight can be an opportunity for prayer and praise. The writer of Psalm 119 arose at midnight and gave thanks to God. In his midnight confession, he declared his love for the Lord. His world was far from perfect, but he saw it in a different light than others and lifted up praise to God. In the same way, Paul and Silas sang praises in a midnight confession. After being severely beaten and jailed, they lifted their voices in worship rather than in protest. Their midnight confession was heard by many, and in the end, brought a lost man to salvation. What will your midnight confession be like? May we also see the world differently -- even on the darkest of nights. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Delayed Obedience

October 15

(Psalm 119:57-61 NIV) “You are my portion, O Lord; I have promised to obey your words. {58} I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. {59} I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes. {60} I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands. {61} Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law.”

(Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 NIV) “When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. {5} It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.”

(James 4:17 NIV) “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.”

Every day, people make commitments to the Lord. We promise to obey God and to walk in His ways. We have good intentions, but something gets in the way. Perhaps we realize that our decision will cost us more than we thought. Obedience can often set us back before it ever rewards us… and so we delay our obedience. We put off doing God’s will until tomorrow or the next day. We fail to do what is right because we’re not ready to stop doing what is wrong. When God calls us to do something, or to stop doing something, we should move as quickly as possible to obey. Hasten to obey! In this case, haste does not make waste -- haste makes sense. In putting off obedience, we are putting off God. Seek His face with all your heart. Turn your steps toward His will and move quickly. Delayed obedience is disobedience. Delayed obedience is sin. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Grey Wickedness

October 14

(Psalm 119:53-56 NIV) “Indignation grips me because of the wicked, who have forsaken your law. {54} Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge. {55} In the night I remember your name, O Lord, and I will keep your law. {56} This has been my practice: I obey your precepts.”

(Proverbs 28:4 NIV)  "Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law resist them."

(Matthew 13:47-50 NIV) “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. {48} When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. {49} This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous {50} and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

In days gone by, being gripped with indignation at the actions of the wicked was a positive trait. Today, it would more likely be viewed as a self-righteous display of hypocrisy. We have lost our sense of good and evil. All the lines have become fuzzy and blurred. We now have this vast no man’s land between goodness and wickedness, where no one seems able to distinguish between darkness and light. There is no black and white -- everything has become grey. The wicked are praised; the righteous are mocked. Our world has turned upside down. But God is not confused. His lines are never blurry. He still rewards those who obey His word and who resist evil. Don’t give up! A day is coming when the Lord will separate the wicked from the righteous… forever. There will be no confusion. There are no grey areas in the holy light of God. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day