He is our Father...He loves us enough to discipline us!

Driving in town today, I saw a stout, muscular man (that looked like he could played NFL football!) walking along and holding, very carefully, a tiny puppy.  I thought it looked unusual, but then I smiled as I looked through the mirror at how carefully he was holding the puppy.  The man may look like he could whip anyone in town, but he had the compassion to protect the puppy from the danger of the busy highway.
Then, I saw the mother duck and her babies, waddling across the grass.  She was pushing them to hurry across the lawn, to protection.
I thought of God.  Yes, He is like both of these caretakers when it comes to us.  I think we will be amazed when we get to heaven and find out all the many times He protected us from danger, physical and spiritual.
But think of these little animals, as they were in the arms and care of their owner they were safe.  As we are when we are in the right relationship with Christ.  However, if the puppy or the baby ducks had drifted away, what do you think would have happened? We all know the owner of the puppy would have scolded it, for its own protection, maybe even smacked it's hinny...because he loves it enough not to want to see it be hurt.  The same way with mama duck, she quacks her heart out when the ducklings do not follow her into the water.  She is aware of the dangers that lurk on the land.  She loves them.
Discipline....yes, because He loves us.  We actually choose it ourselves.  When we are disobedient to God, He has no other choice but to do what is best for us.  Wow! How hard is that to accept?  He wants to bless us and we sometimes run the other direction...then we complain how hard life can be.
I am not saying life is always the result of disobedience, but we must admit, sometimes it is because of our own choices we have made.
Life is hard enough, we live in a sinful world.  Let us choose to live for Christ, to have the power, the shield of armor of His word, to protect us.  He would love nothing more than to never have to discipline us, but to hold us in His arms of protection...just like a puppy being cared for on a busy highway.
Think of your life this week.  Are you in obedience to God's will?  Are you choosing to live for Him?  Let the sweetness of His love fall upon you.......
gs

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all of your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)