DISCIPLINE. It is a 10-letter dirty word. No one likes it, but it is a necessary part of life. As we move on in chapter 12 of the book of Hebrews we find the author of the book addressing this topic in a no nonsense fashion. Let’s put on our big-girl undies and hear what he has to say…even if it is a hard word to hear.
HE-BREWS: A Better Blend
There are those who like to focus exclusively on the love and goodness of God, and He is loving and good. What those same people conveniently forget is that God is also just and righteous and He cannot and will not tolerate sin and disobedience in His children. Nowhere in the Scriptures is God’s love disconnected from His justice and righteousness. In fact, any time justice and judgment was meted out toward a person or people, it was done only after they were given ample warning and opportunity to make a change.
God’s character never changes and so even today when God disciplines His children…you and me…it is only after He has given us warnings and opportunities to make different choices. Join me today in Hebrews 12: 5-13 as we consider this issue of godly discipline.
5 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 heartwhen he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline),then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.13 “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
The repetition of the word discipline in this short passage in significant because God wants us to understand the importance of His discipline. Today I want us to focus on two questions:
- What is the purpose of God’s discipline?
- How are we to react to God’s discipline?
What is the purpose of God’s discipline? I find three purposes in this passage:
- To confirm that we are God’s child
Part of the responsibility of a parent is appropriate discipline of their child. Not the neighbor’s child or the child of anyone else, but their own child. Disciplining a child when they have been rebellious is the way to bring the child into conformity with the parent’s expectations for behavior. In the same way, God has expectations for the behavior of His children and when we misbehave, He has every right to discipline us. That discipline shows that we belong to Him and that He loves us.
- To teach us respect for Jehovah God
There are no shortage of reasons that we should give honor and respect to God. The simple fact that He is GOD should be reason enough. This is a bit like when we were children and we asked our parents ‘why?’ about a particular issue. Their response may very well have been ‘because I am the parent and I said so.’ That was sufficient.
- To bring forth righteousness in us
Sin and rebellion make us out of sorts with God because He is perfect and holy. Discipline seeks to bring us back to right standing before God. It hopefully makes us realize that we have strayed from the right way and encourages us to change. When we are living in righteousness, we will act more like Jesus, talk like Jesus, think like Jesus and be like Jesus. On our own, and without discipline for our rebellion, you and I would never conform to the image of Christ. NEVER!!
Now that we have examined the purposes for discipline let’s consider how we are to react to discipline. I would like to use two quotes to help us understand the proper response to God’s discipline.
The first is a quote from James Montgomery Boice from Nehemiah: An Expositional Commentary. Boice says the following:
“Many people….do not show growth in their walks with Jesus Christ because they do not want to change the way they are living. At times they might even be moved to tears by their failures. But they do not surge ahead because basically they want to do exactly as they have been doing.”
Well, well, well, now. That is pretty much where the rubber hits the proverbial road, isn’t it? Either you and I want our way or God’s way. This is not Burger King. You cannot have it your way. In order to be right with God, we must do things God’s way. Period. The issue is not up for discussion. So, either we respond to discipline and do life God’s way or we ignore discipline and pay the steep and heavy consequences for disobedience.
Now, to the second quote. Not only should we respond to discipline in humility, but we need to respond immediately. Consider this quote from Arthur Pink:
“Remind yourself of how much dross there is yet among the gold and view the corruption of your own heart and marvel that God has not smitten you more severely. Form the habit of heeding His taps, and you will be less likely to receive His raps.” Arthur W Pink. Exposition of Hebrews Grand Rapids: Baker, 1968
The very second you feel that twinge of conviction or conscience is the second to do something about it. Avoid the discipline of God if at all possible. The time to make a change is before God has to beat the living daylights out of you. Heed His taps so you won’t receive His raps!!!
Friends, God does not discipline you for kicks. It does not make Him feel powerful and big, despite the fact that He is powerful and big. He does it because He desires the best for you. He does it for the same reason you discipline your child. He loves you. He loves YOU!!
MEDITATION MOMENT: Is there an area of your life where God is tapping you on the shoulder and saying, “Excuse me. Don’t you think you need to make a change here?” What are you doing with that, friend? Are you heeding His tap in order to avoid His rap or is He bringing discipline your way because you ignored the tap? It is never too late to make a change and get in line with the way God wants you to live.
