“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
Nor faint when you are reproved by Him;
6 For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines,
And He scourges every son whom He receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11 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 12:4-11.
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Today’s devotion focuses on God’s discipline of us. Although there are certain parallels to a natural parent’s discipline of his or her child, we will focus on the God’s perfect insight and perfect discipline of us in the hope that we learn to react better to it.
First of all, let us understand more that God loves us, and His discipline arises out of His love for us, demonstrating His love for us.
“For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines,
And He scourges every son whom He receives.” Verse 6.
“For whom the Lord loves He reproves,
Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.” Proverbs 3:12.
“He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.” Proverbs 13:24.
“Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.” Revelation 3:19.
Second, God’s discipline is not just a quick, spontaneous, reactionary, violent, and physical action like a spanking.
Although God’s discipline, through His agent (natural parent) can include spanking, God’s discipline is more like a time-consuming, planned, initiative, withholding, and spiritual action like a humbling.
“You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. Your clothing did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years. Thus you are to know in your heart that the Lord your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son. Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.” Deuteronomy 8:2-6.
Now, we are not in the wilderness. We are not necessarily hungry. But, God does withhold things for sometimes lengthy times to humble us and build our faith and test our faith, so that we will look to Him more and trust Him more.
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4.
“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:6-9.
Third, let us then react well to God’s discipline.
“Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.” Job 5:17.
“My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord
Or loathe His reproof,
For whom the Lord loves He reproves,
Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.” Proverbs 3:11-12.
“A wise son accepts his father’s discipline, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.” Proverbs 13:1.
“A fool rejects his father’s discipline, But he who regards reproof is sensible.” Proverbs 15:5.
“Listen to counsel and accept discipline, That you may be wise the rest of your days.” Proverbs 19:20.
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:6-11.
Fourth, let us appreciate more the fruit of discipline.
“… He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.” Verse 10.
“… it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” Verse 11.
“And the work of righteousness will be peace,
And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.” Isaiah 32:17.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 