1 Samuel 2:23-24 (NKJV)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo he said to them, \u2018Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people. No, my sons! For it is not a good report that I hear. You make the Lord\u2019s people transgress.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Words are good but there are times that words are simply not enough. Words have their place, but corresponding action must accompany our words. When we say things, we need to act upon them. Words without action are limp. Words with action carry weight. For example, when your people repeatedly break clear instructions, there should be consequences. When nothing is done in the face of obvious evil, it strengthens and reinforces darkness. Words are good and useful, but words need action to make them stick. People don\u2019t take you seriously when your words cannot be enforced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eli was a good man and he wanted God\u2019s glory in the land. Eli\u2019s weakness however was that he did not discipline his children. He taught them, coached them and instructed them \u2013 but he did not enforce discipline when they erred. Because he did not train them with discipline, they grew up thinking that corruption had no real implications. But they were wrong, and Eli failed in this crucial area. Training must be with accompanying discipline. Training must include repercussions for breaking protocol. Strengthen your words through your action. The world needs men and women who can stand by what they believe and teach same to others. The world needs men and women who will enforce truth within their circle of influence. The world needs people of discipline who mentor others to live by God\u2019s standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLord, strengthen me to stand for truth and to enforce truth. Help me influence my world by insisting on the practice of truth. Within my circle, may I speak and act out the truth, and where necessary, may I bring Your discipline on those who intentionally and repeatedly disobey You. In Your name I pray. Amen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 1 Samuel 2:23-24 (NKJV) \u201cSo he said to them, \u2018Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people. No, my sons! For it is not a good report that I hear. You make the Lord\u2019s people transgress.\u2019\u201d Words are good but there are times that words are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7372,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3376","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-reflections-from-1st-samuel"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t