7 things you need to know about God’s DISCIPLINING
My dad is no more, but I still cherish those little corrections and punishments that he used to give us when we were little children, for disobedience, not studying and cheating etc. Those moments were painful but the end result was amazing. We didn’t know much at that time, but now when we look back, if he had not punished us, we would have turned entirely into a different direction.
To discipline means the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behaviour, using punishment to correct disobedience.
Similarly, our Heaven Father disciplines us.
Discipling is painful. It hurts. It’s humiliating. We may feel rejected, forsaken. We tend to give up easily and lose heart. But when we understand the process of how God disciplines us, we have reasons to be joyful and endure the discipline.
How exactly God disciplines us? What it may look like? How do we know whether it is God who is behind the hardships we face? What should be our attitude when God disciplines us?
Let us read a passage from the Bible to understand more about God’s discipline.
And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, ‘My son, 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 son.’ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined – and everyone undergoes discipline – then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 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! 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. 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. (Hebrews 12: 5- 11)
Here are 7 things you need to know
1. Know that disciplining is painful
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.
Consider all the painful experiences of your life as a correction from the Lord. God is His sovereign wisdom uses the hardships that we face to turn into disciplining us to become more perfect and holy. So next time you are hit with some hurtful or painful experience, remember it is some form of discipline going on.
2. Know that God loves you
The first thought which comes to our mind when we go through painful moments is this: Is the Lord hating me? The answer is a big No!
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves
So it is not because the Lord hates you, but because He loves you so much.
When my father used to punish us, we cry. After a while, he hugs us says, “Mone, Dada loves you, that’s why Dada beat you. Love you” We never understood what that meant! But today we know why he said and did that.
When you are hit hard, know this one truth: God loves you so much!
3. Know that God is treating you as His children
“…He chastens everyone he accepts as his son.’ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined – and everyone undergoes discipline – then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.
When you face hardships, remember that God has not given up you, but he is allowing those circumstances to mould you into better children. He wants you to become like Him. It needs a lot of correction, rebuke, warning and sometimes caning! It simply means you are treated like little children.
Isn’t it a great privilege to be disciplined by the Almighty God?
Next time, when you are enduring hardships, remember: You are the beloved child of the Highest God
4. Know that God disciplines you for your good
They (human fathers) disciplined us for a little while as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good
If human fathers punished us for our good, how much more will our loving Heavenly Father disciplines us for our good.
Next time when you endure hardships, remember: God has a good thing in His mind concerning us.
5. Know that you are one step closer to His holiness
but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness
God is holy. Therefore in order to live like God’s children, we have to become more holy day by day. Each and every hardship is designed and planned in such a way to make us more holy.
Therefore next time, you are hit hard by a painful moment, remember: You are one step more to the holiness of God
6. Know that God’s discipline produces God desired fruit
Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Amplified version puts it this way
For the time being, no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful but afterwards, it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness—in conformity to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God].
God is like a farmer and we are like trees. Till God sees fruit in us, He will cultivate us, gives us enough nutrients, water, air and sunlight. Sometimes we feel the heat of the sun, sometimes we are refreshed by the cool of the breeze, sometimes have to bear the rain during the whole night, sometimes He prunes us, but we can be rest assured there is a God desired fruit being developed.
Next time you face hardships, remember: A fruit is at work in you. Allow it to mature till it is ripened.
7. Know that God’s discipline is more of training rather than a punishment
Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
God’s ultimate punishment is Eternal Hell. He doesn’t want to send anyone to hell. So he gives a small rod of correction while on this earth so that you may not end up in hell. Even if you don’t understand what God is intending to do, trust Him that He is training you. Only the trainer knows what He is intending to develop in his students.
Next time, when you endure hardships, remember: This is training for a godly life.
Now, you know 7 things
- Disciplining is painful
- God loves you
- God is treating you as His children
- God disciplines you for your good
- You are one step closer to God’s holiness
- Discipline brings God desired fruit
- God’s discipline is more of training
Therefore, what should we do?
Since we know that discipline is inevitable and it is God who is working behind the scenes, trust God and take the courage to endure it joyfully knowing that you are submitting to the Heavenly Father
“My son, do not think lightly or scorn to submit to the correction and discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage and give up and faint when you are reproved or corrected by Him”
“Endure hardship as discipline”
“How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!”
In short, do not lose courage. Do not give up. Do not faint. Submit to the Father.
He knows what He is doing. Do not question Him, rather humbly submit to the disciplining of your most loving Heavenly Father.
