I know. This will probably be the least popular devotional on the site. Who wants to talk about such a topic after all? Well, there are times when God corrects us. Because of His love for us, He will sometimes bring a measure of discipline into our lives.
Lets just see what the scriptures have to say about it. I will let the scriptures speak for themselves.
Job 5:17 – Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
Psalm 94:12 – Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord, the one you teach from your law;
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.
Hebrews 12: 7-11 – Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
1 Corinthians 11: 31-32 – But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.
So if I were to summarize these things, I would say that it appears that when our Heavenly Father disciplines us, it is not because He is a big jerk who loves rules and hates fun. It is because He has our best interests in mind. It is like a parent who teaches their child to look both ways before crossing the street, and then has to deal with what to do when the child refuses to listen. The parent then will discipline the child, because what little pain the discipline causes, may just save the child’s life! That is if the lesson is learned.
The discipline is an act of love that will result in life, and life in more abundance then we can acquire on our own with out the foresight of our Heavenly Father.
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