Divine Discipline

Divine Discipline

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

Hebrews 12:7-11

Some parents let their children do whatever they want to do—never punishing the children when they need it or prodding them in the right direction. Other parents are so strict, with so many rules or such harsh punishments, that their children live in constant fear of being in trouble.

God doesn’t go to these extremes in how he parents us. He’s the perfect parent. His discipline flows out of his love, not his anger. He does not lose his temper and lash out. He knows exactly what we need, and he disciplines us just right. When he disciplines us—by setting wise boundaries, allowing us to experience the natural consequences of our bad choices, and helping us to see the wrong in what we’ve done—he is loving us. It’s good for us to learn that sin hurts us, so God may allow us to experience the pain sin causes. It is good for us to learn that disobedience leads to emptiness and regret, so he may allow us to feel the pain of that regret.

God takes no pleasure in the pain we experience when disciplined. He’s like the parent who says, “This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you.” But because he loves us, he does what is best for us.

DISCUSSION STARTERS

What would it be like to be in a family where the parents never discipline their children?

What is God’s goal when he disciplines his children?

How should we respond to God’s discipline in our lives?