Yesterday we were with our youngest grandchildren, it was so much fun! There was lots of laughter and then there was a scuffle and our granddaughter pinched her brother. Quickly “Dad” stepped in and took the situation in hand. Correction was needed and given.
Today we will see how God disciplines us. The Bible tells us He disciplines the ones He loves…
Like all good parents, our heavenly Father will correct us and bring discipline into our lives. A child without correction and discipline is, quite frankly, a spoiled brat.
“But you have forgotten that the Scriptures say to God’s children, ‘When the Lord punishes you, don’t make light of it and when he corrects you, don’t be discouraged. 6 The Lord corrects the people he loves and disciplines those he calls his own.’
7 Be patient when you are being corrected! This is how God treats his children. Don’t all parents correct their children? 8 God corrects all of his children, and if he doesn’t correct you, then you don’t really belong to him. 9 Our earthly fathers correct us, and we still respect them. Isn’t it even better to be given true life by letting our spiritual Father correct us?
10 Our human fathers correct us for a short time, and they do it as they think best. But God corrects us for our own good, because he wants us to be holy, as he is. 11 It is never fun to be corrected. In fact, at the time it is always painful. But if we learn to obey by being corrected, we will do right and live at peace.” Hebrews 12:5-11 ERV
We receive discipline because we are true sons of God and the Lord loves us. For years, religion taught that discipline comes through sickness, accidents or losing that which we love the most.
But that is not true. That’s not who God is!
How would we feel if people went around accusing us of giving our children the flu, measles, or cancer because we were disciplining them? What if they said we caused our child to have an accident of some sort to teach them a lesson? To put it mildly, we’d probably be fighting mad!
Well, the religious world has been accusing God of doing that very thing for generations. In fact, they have even accused Him of killing children, teenagers or those in their prime of life to save them from a life of sin or to bring others to salvation. A loving father would never subject his children to such treatment. There was only one life required for salvation and Jesus filled the bill!
Imagine how God’s heart must break when He hears those things being said. God said His Word was given for our discipline and correction. In Jesus’ own ministry He never used physical abuse to correct His disciples; every rebuke or correction was based on the Word.
Have you ever read a verse of Scripture or heard a message that pricked your heart? In my experience that hurt more than any spanking I physically received. After correction from the Word, it becomes our responsibility to accept that chastisement and correct our ways. It is the Word that will perfect us and equip us through and through.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” II Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
May I encourage you not to ignore God’s word when it brings correction. His discipline prepares and equips us for EVERY good work!
