July 28

Today I read again of God's heart - it is crushed for His people that He is sending into captivity and to their death. God's justice is triumphing over mercy because it must. (But mercy is just waiting for the glimpse of repentance). Judah has become a people who wave to their neighbor and then plot how to harm them. They have so lost their sense of identity of being God's people that they lie, steal, murder, commit adultery and then come and worship God in His temple - on the way back from sacrificing their children in the fire to other gods. God cannot tolerate this behavior and must correct it or lose His people forever.

The hardest thing has a parent is to punish/correct your children. We are good at scolding and yelling at them, but when it comes to punishment and bringing the consequence of their actions in such a way that will purge them, society is falling short. Kids tell their parents what they shall eat, when they shall eat, where they will go and parents by and large go along with it. Young ones will say "no" to the demands of their parents and get a talking to - after they have done it time and time again. Parental love necessitates punishment to correct your children.

If I may be vulnerable, as a leader this hit me more than as a parent. In the name of grace and mercy I have been weak at times in my leadership. There is a standard which I have not held people to out of fear I would offend them. There is definitely a delicate balance that must be attained, but I must raise the banner of the Lord and ask (sometimes demand) that people step up to God's standard. It is what love would do because it benefits not only the whole church/group, but also the person whose bar has been set too low. God, help me be like you - love like you, bless like you and call people to your standard just like you would do.