And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:5-11 ESV)
Our 4 year old has had a pretty rough week at school. This morning while we were eating muffins, we were chatting together and I put my coffee mug on top of the muffin holder. Of course, he followed suit and put his cup of milk on top as well. After I told him to be careful and not knock his cup off of the holder, he did it anyway. It was one of those moments where we were enjoying one another’s company and it was hard for me to be consistent and discipline him.
Of course, if I didn’t discipline him, I would be misrepresenting my Father as a father. It’s also hard not to look at him as ‘worse’ than his brother, because this week he has received so much discipline and instruction.
The Lord brought the above verses to my mind this morning. My son isn’t ultimately receiving so much discipline and instruction because he is worse than his brother or because he is a bad kid. Ultimately, he is disciplined because his mommy and I love him.
It’s the same with God our Father. Through Christ and because of Christ, he disciplines us and treats us as His own because He loves us. Yes, we are sinners and that is precisely why He allows us to suffer like our older brother, because He is holy and He won’t leave us like we were. If He did and there is no process of change in our minds, hearts and lives to love and look like Him, then we are illegitimate children, children of wrath just like the rest of mankind.
Love. That is why He disciplines His kids and why we should as well.
You are absolutely right…..we discipline because we love…..we are disciplined because we are loved. The world does not understand that, does it?
Love you all!
I’ve been keeping up with you all thru Amanda. She tells me about all the “loving” going on in your home. So grateful to our Heavenly Father for building your family! As you are already finding out, raising children teaches you a lot about Him!
Thanks Mrs. Debbie! We love you all as well!