The Father's discipline

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 12:10-11 NLT

Every honest earthly father will admit that the way he disciplines his child or children is not perfect. There are times that the disciplining is there and observed strictly or non-existent. Sometimes the discipline being done reflects the father’s favoritism for the wrong child is at times being punished. The earthly father learns discipline by doing it. This is not the case with our heavenly Father. His discipline is based on His nature and character. God is perfect therefore His discipline is not done with ill-willed or ill-informed. His discipline is not impulsive and never misdirected. God’s goal in disciplining His children is so that they will reflect His character. “‘You must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, ‘You must be holy because I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15-16). When God forgave us of our sin, God’s righteousness was given to us through Christ. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). This means that God should discipline us so that all the more we show His righteousness through our godly living. The godlier we are means that we have been enduring God’s discipline. The writer of Hebrews does not promote the idea of hedonism for we do not find pleasure when we are being disciplined. In fact, it is to the contrary, “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful!” (Hebrews 12:11a). This is true in whatever type or level of discipline we go through. But once we learn how to endure God’s discipline, “there will be a peaceful harvest of right living” (Hebrews 12:11b). Not only that our godly lives become visible to others, it also produces peace within for we know that we are living up to what God expects from us. So, instead of battling against the difficulties in life, look at them as part of God’s process of disciplining. When we experience difficulties in life, they can distract us from focusing to our Lord Jesus Christ or they can derail us from running the course God had set before us. Thus, we will do best when we endure facing the hardships in life by looking up to the author and finisher of our faith as we run the race He had set before us.

Blessings,