| Photo by Thao Lee on Unsplash
How many of us like discipline? We resent being disciplined because we feel we are right and do not deserve the consequences of our choices. But how many know that discipline is really for our good?
Hebrews 12:10-11 reads, “For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. BUT God’s discipline is ALWAYS GOOD FOR US, so that we might share in His holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening – it’s painful. But afterward, there will be a peaceable harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.”
Discipline aims to train and show us what we are doing wrong. Discipline is teaching with action behind it. When a parent disciplines a child (not punish a child), the purpose is to show them that their actions are not good for them. Discipline is teaching them that there are consequences to bad choices! Hopefully, we learn to make better choices through the discipline we face.
But God’s discipline is ALWAYS GOOD FOR US! God is not disciplining us to punish us, to get back at us, revenge, or because He is angry. God knows that the purpose of discipline is to make us more like Jesus. God disciplines us to teach us a lesson that His way is the best way!
Discipline is painful and difficult when we are going through it. But hopefully, we learn from it and change our choices on life’s journey. Let’s change our choices so that we do not need to keep on being disciplined by the Lord.
When we respond correctly, look at the result: “But afterward, there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those trained in this way. If we learn our lesson, we are at peace with God, ourselves, and others, and what blessing that will bring into our lives.
Lord, help me to learn even in times of discipline that “He that began a good work in me, will bring it to the day of completion.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Pastor Ronald Squibb has been the International Christian Church (ICC) Lead Senior Pastor at Staten Island, New York, since 2011. He draws many experiences from his over 40 years as a pastor and significant emotional life experiences.
His new book, Following the Journey with Jesus, which he co-authored with Daniel McNaughton, was recently published and is getting rave reviews. His daily devotional appears in this publication.
