Zebra Ministries

Good morning Zebras,

I love you and God really loves you which is why He is constantly training you.

Proverbs 3:11–12:  My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

We act like we are being trained and disciplined because we are “bad.”  But nothing could be further from the truth.  We are constantly being disciplined and pruned by God because He loves us and He is willing to do the work to make sure we do not settle for anything less than being transformed into the image of Jesus.

When I was a teacher it always frustrated me to see a bright child unwilling to do the work necessary to get an “A”.  To me it was more frustrating than the student who tried and still got a “C.”  Sometimes there were extenuating circumstance but usually it was just because the bright student was lazy or distracted by activities outside of school that they preferred. 

All of us have the ability to know and obey God and to resist the “corruption of the world.”  All of us have the capability to get and “A” because it was given to us by Him.  How it must frustrate Him when we are too distracted by the things of the world or just too lazy to use it. 

Matthew 13:22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.

Peter says God has given us everything we need, which is a reference to the indwelling Holy Spirit, and then he gives us a list of things that we should do to make sure we receive a rich welcome into the kingdom. A truly life changing passage once it is understood and applied. 

2 Peter 1:3–11 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.  Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 Love,

Jill