“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 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 spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 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.” (Hebrews 12:7-11 NIV)
The title of this “Monday Short” meditation may not seem to match our opening Scripture, but let me assure you it does.
Did you know your house speaks? It speaks by means of the persons who dwell their daily, and by the priorities that are practiced, and by the level of pride, hopefully not enough to keep the inhabitants from being submissive, and finally, the house speaks by the possessions within that place.
Recently I entered a house and listened to the “house speaks.” Oh, I focused on the people, the personalities, the prevailing atmosphere and more, but I let the silent possessions speak to me louder. I looked for signs that it was a God-fearing house. What did the wall hangings have to say? What did the books have to say? What did the pictures communicate? Let me focus on what the books had to say. I found several books that revealed that I was in a house where it was unquestionably a home where the Lord was head of the house. One specific book, caught my attention, begging me in silence to pick it up! I did! Now, the exact title of the book escapes my memory, but I remember it had a meditation in it that conveyed the fact that the words “discipline” and “disciple” came from the same Latin word, “discipulus.”
The takeaway I have to share with you this morning is, God will discipline us so that we can be better disciples, better followers of Christ Jesus continuously, both in and outside of the Christian community; in the presence of the saints and, oh well, in the presence of those who ain’t. House speaks; I would not have had this takeaway to share if the house I was in did not speak to me and speak in a way that my curiosity led to my certain edification. I hope what I have written in a succinct “Monday Short” type of way does the same for you. Also, I hope you will take a look at your house and see what it is saying to you first, and to all who enter. Have a great start to your week. Be blessed!
“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:35 NLT)