A lesson from Psychology 2301

     In my Psychology textbook I was reading about operant learning,  where you do something and, as a result, receive either punishment or reinforcement. Children who do something wrong are punished, and by that punishment learn not to do that wrong thing anymore. As christians, we are sometimes punished for loving the Lord and sharing about Him. According to my textbook we should be learning not to share about the Lord anymore because we're being punished.

     We cannot allow ourselves learn that.  In order to make a difference in this world, to bring glory to God, we must be willing to receive punishment, and fight against our natural tendencies to flee things that hurt. 

     We hear stories of martyrs who gave up their lives because they would not renounce the Lord. Also of missionaries who continually go back to tell people of the Lord regardless of the consequences. Some people get rejected multiple times and never give up. They are the ones who hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant," when standing before the Lord. That's what it takes.


     It is easy to magnify the things that hurt, forgetting that the good outweighs the bad by huge degrees. It's so important to remember the blessings we receive by being followers of Christ. 

     "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being   renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." - 2 Corinthians 4:16-17