5:57 – Should We Just Throw It Away?

#faithbites #faithjourney throw

Intro

Today I was fighting with one of my 3D printers. I was so frustrated with it and just wanted to be done. My youngest said, just throw it away and get a new one. I was so close to doing it and may still but I did get it fixed and I’m printing.

How often do we feel that when something isn’t working, we should just throw it away and start over? What about the Bible? Do you ever feel that it’s not working for you and you need to throw it out? It’s these times when we need to really listen to God, find oi what he is telling us, and grow.

Questions

• Have you had a time when you want to throw out a piece of the Bible because “it doesn’t work” for you anymore?
• Does it not work for you or are you not understanding the whole story?

Scripture

Hebrews 12:7-11 – ⁷ It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? ⁸ If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. ⁹ Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰ For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. ¹¹ For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Reflection

These verses may seem like they don’t match the topic of throwing away things when they appear to be broken or don’t work right. When we feel God isn’t working for us or the Bible, it’s usually because we are angry and want to do something that God says is wrong. Just like our Earthly parents, we get mad, and see it as pointless and stopping us from doing what we want. It isn’t until some time later, sometimes even much longer, that we realize those rules and discipline were important and needed.

Just as I finally fixed my printer through understanding and patience, when we listen to God, even if we don’t like what he wants to say, we grow and learn. His word is our lifeline to understand Him.

As we close, remember that you may be frustrated and just want to throw it away, but stay strong and understand that God has a plan, we just need to work through it and listen.

Prayer

Father God, your words and directions are for our protection and growth. Sometimes we get frustrated with your rules, discipline, and just want to throw our relationship with you away. . Forgive us and help us to understand that we are your children and you only want the best for us. We pray this in your name, Amen.