On Discipline and Repentance

A few of my favorite quotes from “Jonah: Navigating a Life Interrupted”, homework from week 3, with Priscilla Shirer:

“Adversity is redemptive, not punitive.”

“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.  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 12:10-11

On the heart:

“Whether or not Jonah knew God was never the concern.  Clearly he was well acquainted with God.  He could discern the leading of God.  Yet Jonah had a problem agreeing with God and changing his mind, attitude, and actions to comply with God.  His heart was out of alignment with the heart of God.”

On repentance:

“Jonah still did not desire to go to Ninevah… Repentance doesn’t necessarily require that your feelings have changed about what God is asking you to do… Repentance means that you are willing, despite those feelings, to put it aside and stop travelling the wrong way.  True repentance requires a change in direction.”

 

3 thoughts on “On Discipline and Repentance

  1. I love the part where ‘adversity is redemptive and not punitive’. Filing that away for future application! Thanks for sharing.

  2. The part about the feelings is exactly what I have been thinking about lately. Is loving God with all my heart soul mind and strenght possible without me feeling like it?

    1. Renate, I think sometimes we choose to keep walking in the right direction, even when we don’t feel like it. And with the Holy Spirit in our hearts, hopefully our feelings will catch up. It’s kind of like husbands… We choose to love them even if we don’t always feel like it. Love to you!

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