Who And Whose You Are

For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

Proverbs 3:12

Individual birth certificates are so important that state governments keep a copy in case the original is lost or destroyed. Your birth certificate proves two things about you: who you are (your name, date, and place of birth) and whose you are (your parents’ names). You can’t get married, obtain a passport, or receive a driver’s license without a birth certificate.

For the Christian, there is a different kind of proof that tells who and whose you are, spiritually speaking: the loving discipline of a heavenly Father. In Scripture, discipline is more akin to child training than to punishment. Just as an earthly father employs numerous methods of training in raising his children, so does God in raising us as His spiritual children.

In fact, the Bible says we are illegitimate children, not really God’s, if we don’t experience His hand of training in our lives. God’s discipline is proof that we belong to Him. Treat God’s discipline in your life with as much care as you do your birth certificate.

When God’s training stretches you beyond your comfort zone, be thankful that it proves who and whose you are.