Friday Devotion
Our devotion to God
The way we show gratitude to God for his blessings is by being devoted to him, and the way we show devotion to him is by obeying his Word, holding fast to him and loving him above everything else. And let us never forget the connection the Lord Jesus made between loving him and keeping his commandments (John 14:23).
God’s devotion to chastisement
God is so devoted to his people that he is unwilling to let them slide into behaviour that is harmful to them.
He has obligated himself to chastise his people when they need it. This chastisement is not because he is mean or cruel. The author of Hebrews says it is ‘for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness’ (Heb. 12:10).
The same author writes, ‘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’ (Heb. 12:11).
The devil argues that bad is good and good is bad, but God knows what is good for us, and is determined to work towards it.