Loving Discipline

READ: "Whoever loves discipline loves to learn, but whoever hates correction is a dumb animal."

--Proverbs 12:1

THINK: Do you love discipline? Why, or why not? 

If loving discipline means loving knowledge… Do you love knowledge?

Do you hate being corrected? If yes, then why? You’re not stupid, right? RIGHT?

DO: Today, when someone corrects you, or someone in authority disciplines

you, try to receive it as a gift of knowledge from God. Even if you feel the discipline isn't

fair, receive it with grace, and consider what God could be teaching you in that

situation.

Take A Leap

READ: Matthew 18:1-3

THINK: When Jesus confronted an issue, He had a way with making it make sense. In this passage, He is confronting a group of individuals who are acting childish, self-centered, and arguing about something that is not significant. Now the idea that those He is talking to are probably teenagers makes this incredibly relevant. How often have you been around a group of teenage or college-age guys that are trying to prove who is better than the other? 

But instead of Jesus sounding like a parent, or picking sides, He says (in a way), "Stop being childish, be child-like". Catchy... but what is He really talking about? Basically, these guys were arguing about who the greatest is, and Jesus turns it into a challenge for their faith. "Who are you trusting in? Yourself? Or Me? Your accomplishments? Or what God will do through you?"

A child-like faith... a faith that will jump into the arms of God and trust Him. Like when you were a kid, you didn't know how to swim or you were up on something tall and your dad was below saying, "trust me, I'll help you". That's a child-like faith. 

DO: Last summer, a group of our High School students "took a leap" when they jumped from a 20ft. cliff into the water. For some it was harder than others. This month, you are taking a pretty big leap that many are too afraid to try... you are on the Media fast. So today, or for this month, what is something else you can "take a leap" from and trust God with? Telling a friend about your relationship with Jesus? Inviting them to church? Pray about that today, and take time to listen to God. You might even ask your parents what they think!