And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you… —Hebrews 12:5
I remember as a kid growing up the many times I got in trouble with my parents. Sometimes it was being “grounded” for a couple of days, weeks or even sometimes a month (depending on severity of the “crimes”), other times it was getting it with a belt (where I tried to escape the sting by allowing the belt to wrap around my forearm as it was swung, therefore eliminating the hit – which only worked with my mom). I am sure we can all remember those times when we received discipline. All in all, as we matured, we can look back and acknowledge that it was all done for “our own good”. In the same way, when we fail to do right as Christians, God does discipline us. But, we can be assured that it is for our own good and for the purpose of getting us on the right track.
Here are a few thoughts on God’s discipline:
DISCIPLINE OVER PUNISHMENT
God prefers discipline over punishment. Discipline is being subject to a hard thing, so that we can learn to choose better. So, discipline is rooted on grace and love. Punishment, on the other hand, is rooted on justice, on balancing the scales. Punishment is activated when the graceful lessons of discipline are not learned, therefore leaving it as the last option. It is so important to learn from the lessons God is trying to teach us while he is disciplining us.
OUR RESPONSE AND REACTION
The scripture above speaks to the 3 different responses we have to God’s discipline – two negative responses and a positive reaction.
1. “Do not make light of the Lord’s discipline“. I remember a time when my Dad grounded me for doing something and in my immaturity as a teen my response to it was. “I don’t care”. I was surely upset, and not that I disagreed with the result, but instead, took a stance of rebellion. I wanted to demonstrate that my Dad’s decision was nothing to me and that it wouldn’t accomplish anything. That stance went totally against the purpose of discipline, which is to better us. Out of the hardness of our heart, we reject what is good. We must analyze, understand and accept the discipline from God. If God decides to “ground” us for a season, we might be temped to reject and oppose, but instead, analyze, understand and accept it, for He loves you.
2. “do not lose heart when he rebukes you”. It’s so easy to be discouraged. Discouragement happens when we lose sight of faith, and choose to focus on what is seen. I remember as a 7 year old, walking home from school one day in Long Beach, California. The walk wasn’t very long, a total of 8 to 10 city blocks. On one of the intersections, the light was red, but instead of waiting for green, I decided to go for it and cross. As soon as my foot went off the curb and landed on the street, a loud police syren blipped freezing me in place. As I looked up, the red and blue lights from a black and white police car i failed to see in front of me went off, the officer leaning into the passenger seat with his finger pointed directly at me. I could read his lips in slow motion as he said, “NO JAY WALKING”. My foot sharply went back to the curb as I felt heart sink to my stomach. I felt so scared. Later I would learn of a kid who was really injured because of jay walking. The sharp rebuke of that police officer I remembered and always waited for the green light. When God rebukes us, remember that it is because He truly cares.
Amarillo For Christ Church 