It's been a while.  Long while.  I took some time off during Lent, and prayed about a lot of things in my life.  And started studying Ezekiel.  Wow.  Don't get it.  But one thing really struck me as I was reading...

"And they shall know that I am the Lord.  I have not said in vain that I would do this evil to them."  Ezekiel 6:10, ESV

In this chapter, God is speaking of the destruction He will bring upon the houses of Israel and Judah because of their "whoring".  Yes.  That's the word used in this translation.  The bible says, "I will do with you what I have never yet done, and the like of which I will never do again" (Ez. 5:9).  Sounds terrible, right?  Our loving God, who is slow to anger and quick to forgive, giving His only Son on our behalf so that we have eternity with Him, also brought a destruction so great and terrible I actually shudder when I think of it.  The killing of thousands, even children.  And "cast down the slain before idols (6:4).  And this punishment was said to last almost 400 years!!!!!

Seriously, stop what you are doing and read chapter 5.  It's gruesome.

So then I find myself thinking...as a Christian we are called to show "love" and "grace" to others.  Pointing them to the scriptures that will save them eternally.  How can this picture of God point us to His goodness?!  I began to really read Ez. 6:10 again, "I have not said in VAIN that I would do this evil to them".  Vain.  What does that mean?  So we know the first definition given about vain, "conceit".  But in looking up the definition via my kindle and Dictionary.com, I was intrigued by a different view of the word:  Useless.

"I have not said in (uselessness) that I would do this evil to them."  Wow.  God had a "use" for this discipline of His people.  As He does for us today. Two things I got out of this verse:

1) God does not just render vengeance.  EVERYTHING He does on our behalf is for our good.  Even the sacrifice of His Son.  The bible says more than once that He disciplines those He loves (Heb. 12:6, Prov. 3:12, Rev. 3:19)  He loves us enough that He will do ANYTHING it takes to draw us closer to Him.  Even destruction.  Wow.

2) How do I discipline my children?  Do I discipline them with vengeance because I am angry?  Or am I disciplining them for their good?  I think many times I fail, and am rendering what I feel they "deserve".  What a reminder that God did not hand us what we "deserve"...He gave us His best instead.  And that we exemplify our Father, when we discipline with our children's best in mind.  That doesn't mean the discipline will be easy...but "useful".  Beneficial for the long term.

Oh Lord, guide us parents to Your will and Your way.  Teach us how to teach our children about your love and truths...and guide us to discipline in love, with love, and with a desire to grow them closer to You.  In Jesus' name, amen.