God's Loving Discipline

Chuckle:  Church Bulletin blooper:  "Barbara remains in the hospital.  She is having trouble sleeping and requests CD's of Pastor Jack's sermons." 

 

Quote:  "The Lord disciplines those he loves."  How petty our complaining is!  Our Lord begins to bring us into the place where we can have communion with Him, and we groan and say, "O Lord, let me be like other people!"  --Oswald Chambers      

 

GOD'S LOVING DISCIPLINE

 

    "My child, don't ignore it when the Lord disciplines you, and don't be discouraged when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes those he accepts as children" (Hebrews 12:5b-6 NLT).

 

When we find ourselves in troublesome situations, it's popular to blame Satan.  We may think Satan is waging spiritual warfare against us when we experience unpleasant circumstances and hardships.  It's so much easier to blame our troubles on Satan than to admit we may be reaping what we have sown (Gal. 5:6) and are being chastised and disciplined by our loving Heavenly Father.

 

We all know there have been times when we were guilty of not listening to God -- not paying attention to what His Word was saying.  For some of us, God may have used severe discipline to get our attention so that we would restore our fellowship with Him and once again listen for and obey His voice.

 

Who do you think loves his child the most -- the parent who allows his child to make his own bad choices and make mistakes that will ultimately harm him, or the parent who shows love by disciplining his child with correction, training, and even appropriate punishment?  I think the answer is obvious.

 

Yes, we can mistake our difficulties for the work of Satan, when in fact they are the result of a loving God warning us of looming dangers because of sin in our lives.  No doubt God disciplines us to get us back on the right path.  How sad it is when a child of God never makes the connection between life's problems and God's loving discipline.

 

    "No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening -- it is painful! But afterward there will be a quiet harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way" (Hebrews 12:11 NLT).  

 

God's discipline is never pleasant, but it is an unmistakable sign of God's perfect love and concern for us.  One thing is certain, because of God's love for you, His discipline will be for your ultimate good.  Our most important question should be, what is God trying to teach me through His disciplining?  

 

Love, Jerry & Dotse