“THE LORD’S DISCIPLINE”

Hebrews 12:5-6

My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord nor faint when you are reproved by Him. For whom the Lord loves He disciplines and He scourges every son whom he receives.

I can’t ever remember rejoicing when my dad disciplined me. His discipline was never pleasant. It always smarted in one way or another. But I always remembered that there was a reason for what he did - although he often let me discover the reason on my own. His “you know why I’m doing this, young man” still comes resounding back to me on certain occasions. For the most part I did know, although sometimes he left me wondering.

I discovered when I became a Christian, my Heavenly Father followed the same pattern. Well, more accurately, my earthly father was following the heavenly pattern, although he wasn’t aware of it.

However now I rather look forward to my Heavenly Father’s discipline. “Why?” you ask. Simply because it reaffirms to me that I am His child. The text tells me that if I am without discipline, I am not His child! In fact I now regard Divine Discipline as one of the points of assurance of salvation.

So when Paul says do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord nor faint at His reproof, just take it as your Father confirming His divine parenthood.

All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

Hebrews 12:11

God bless.

Love to you all.