Loving Discipline
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Revelation 3:19
Do you love discipline? Most of us don’t. But Scripture says, “My [child], do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his [child]” (Hebrews 12:5-6 based on Proverbs 3:11-12).
We may have the wrong view of discipline because of past experiences with imperfect, possibly even abusive parents. Our earthly parents “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” (Hebrews 12:10).
These descriptions of discipline come from the book of Hebrews, written to Jewish Christians who were being persecuted. They were publicly reproached and afflicted (Hebrews 10:32-34), their property was plundered (13:9), and they were being imprisoned (13:23). They might have felt that God was punishing them or that he’d forgotten them. But they’d forgotten principles regarding the discipline of the Lord.
The word used in Hebrews 12 is chastening, which refers to “the training and education of children, including the training and care of the body, and in adults also
cultivates the soul, especially by correcting mistakes and curbing passions; instruction which aims at increasing virtue.”*
Discipline is training, not paying for sin. Even when we’ve done wrong and God is rebuking us, he isn’t making us pay for our sin—Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sins.
Discipline enables us to share in God’s holiness. Holiness may not sound desirable to us because this idea has been abused by groups who’ve emphasized outwards actions and appearances. But God desires inward purity of heart.
Discipline prepares us for something in the future. Not long after the Church was established, false teachers came and turned many away from the faith. We need to beware of false teachers today as well.
Discipline is good for us. How often as a child, did you hear “it’s good for you”? And now you can see that discipline really was good for you.
Do you love the discipline of your loving heavenly Father?
DIG DEEPER:
Read Hebrews 12:4-10. As you look at your Christian life, can you see examples of God’s discipline? How have you been trained by these?
How does Hebrews 12:11 describe discipline? What can be produced for those who have been trained by it?
If you’ve had a poor relationship with your parents, you may have to ask for a new perspective on how God is a loving Father who disciplines with love. Besides the verses in Hebrews, see Job 5:17 and Psalm 94:12-14. How is discipline described in those passages?
See also a devotion on Proverbs 12:1, The Value of Rebuke.
Nancy J. Baker
This devotion is part of a series on the But God events in the Bible.
*https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G3809&t=KJV