The Lord’s Discipline

He disciplines you (i.e., uses corrective action) because He loves you!

“The Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as his child.”

Hebrews 12:6 (NCV)

Deuteronomy 8:2-6 Remember that for 40 years the Lord your God led you on your journey in the desert. He did this in order to humble you and test you. He wanted to know whether or not you would wholeheartedly obey his commands. 3 So he made you suffer from hunger and then fed you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had seen before. He did this to teach you that a person cannot live on bread alone but on every word that the Lord speaks.

4 Your clothes didn’t wear out, and your feet didn’t swell these past 40 years. 5 Learn this lesson by heart: The Lord your God was disciplining you as parents discipline their children. 6 Obey the commands of the Lord your God. Follow his directions, and fear him. (GW)

Appreciate His correction

The Lord’s discipline is not something to desire but something to appreciate when it happens. It is corrective action, meant to bring about a change in manner or behavior. He allowed the children of Israel to go through many things to teach them to trust and obey Him, just as a good parent should do with their child(ren).

Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, do not reject the Lord’s discipline, and do not despise his correction, 12 because the Lord corrects the person he loves, just as a father corrects the son he delights in. (ISV)

Leads to holiness

The Lord disciplines us to help us so that we can be holy like him. I know it might sound harsh but it is the truth. The following should make this clear:

Hebrews 12:7-11 Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? 8 But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons.

9 Besides, we have experienced discipline from our earthly fathers and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life? 10 For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness.

11 Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it. (NET)

Corrective action

So many today do not believe in discipline [punishment, chastisement or correction] especially when it involves their children. Heaven forbid we follow the instructions in Proverbs 23:13-14 or Proverbs 13:24

Withhold not correction from the child: for if you beat him with the rod, he shall not die. 14 You shall beat him with the rod, and shall deliver his soul from hell. Proverbs 23:13-14 (UKJV)

If you do not punish your children [withhold/spare the rod], you don’t love them [hate your children/son], but if you love your children, you will correct [discipline] them. Proverbs 13:24 (EXB)

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour your father and mother; (which is the first commandment with a promise;)
3 That it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.
4 And you fathers, do not provoke your children to anger:
but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:1-4 (RKJNT)

In conclusion

Psalm 94:12-15 Lord, happy is the man You discipline and teach from Your law 13 to give him relief from troubled times until a pit is dug for the wicked. 14 The Lord will not forsake His people or abandon His heritage, 15 for justice will again be righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it. (HCSB)

I have experienced the Lord’s discipline and I am glad that He cared enough to correct me. Our opinion in this matter does not count, God has not asked any of us, “what do you think”, or has He? As a child of God, I accept the correction (chastening; discipline) of the Lord; I trust Him to do what is right and best for me. Accept His discipline with gratitude knowing it is done because He loves you and be blessed—♥ Tim.

♥ Question for ‘the Lord’s discipline’: Do you avoid certain scriptures or find it hard to accept or believe them?

Scriptures to read and study:

NOTE: the key verses are in parenthesis. Hebrews 12:3-11 (6); Deuteronomy 8:1-10 (5); Psalms 32:1-5, 89:30-37 (30-34) and 141:5; Proverbs 3:11-12, 13:24 and 27:5 {Proverbs 19:18; 22:15; 29:15}