Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NIV)
A faith that hasn’t been tested can’t be trusted. – Adrian Rogers
My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.
Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
Psalm 57:7-11 (NIV)
River Run recently completed our second outing in our four part study series of the Secrets of the Vine, a book by Bruce Wilkinson. We traveled much of downeast Maine with this outing. We were, again, inspired by the beauty of the fall foliage season and by the Word of God. This week’s focus was on how God, the Father, disciplines us so we will bear fruit, more fruit, and much fruit. A key text was found in a passage found in Hebrews 12:5-11. See below.
Two additional outings are planned this fall. We hope to post updates as this series continues.
And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”
If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:5-11 (NKJV)
As we traveled out Rte. 9 toward Calais, we made a stop.
We learned that, as Christians, if we do not bear fruit, God will step in. Sometimes He needs to lift us up and clean us off first, just like a vinedresser does to a branch that has been lying on the ground and is covered with dirt.
We continued our journey, enjoying lunch along the St. Croix River.
Our second study stop was overlooking a part of the Gulf of Maine that can be seen from the Quoddy Point State Park.
We learned that God’s discipline will intensify if we reject His correction. At first, it might be heard in that wee small voice found within us. We decided we would prefer to accept God’s correction at this point, rather than finding we need further discipline in the form of “chastening” or “scourging” from God.
Our final study stop for the day was at Roque Bluffs.
As we watched the sun set on the western horizon, we realized that God has given us the freedom to choose to obey Him and accept His discipline. With this freedom come blessings or consequences. May we choose obedience.
Father, thank you for guarding us, our hearts, our minds, our very lives from the attacks of the enemy. Help us to gain full knowledge of how deeply your faithfulness to us goes. Amen.
Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.
I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me.
He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me—God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.
Psalm 57:1-3 (NIV)
2 Thessalonians 3:3 (ESV)
But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.
And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?
Luke 18:7-8 (NIV)
True faith means holding nothing back. It means putting every hope in God’s fidelity to His promises. – Francis Chan
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:1-5 (NIV)
Faithfully Yours Forever 