Do you remember being disciplined as a child? When you misbehaved, how did your parents respond? In one way or another, you probably had to face the consequences of your actions. Those who now have children of their own understand the need for discipline. But punishment isn’t always a popular topic to think about. So how might we think about God’s discipline? The Bible teaches us how to understand and respond to God’s correction in our lives.
God’s Discipline Should Be Seen as Loving Instruction.
The Bible clearly describes God as our Father. Despite any negative connotations that word holds regarding your earthly father, Scripture describes a heavenly Father who is unconditionally loving and endlessly merciful towards his children. Nevertheless, there are still consequences for our sins, and part of God’s love is his discipline.
The Lord disciplines those he loves. His discipline throughout Scripture includes loving instruction. He didn’t just want to punish his children; he wanted to rebuke and correct them on what was right. He is teaching us when he punishes us. If you love someone, you want to protect them from pain and suffering. So when God disciplines us, he protects us against the pain that further sin could cause.
This loving instruction is in response to evil, so we come to repentance and transformation. To put it bluntly, what you’re doing is so harmful to you that God immediately takes action against you and the sinful act so that you change.
God’s Discipline is Evidence that You are His Child.
Proverbs 3:12 says, “the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” God’s correction is meant for our growth and good. Sometimes, the natural consequences of habitual sin would destroy our lives, and God’s rebuke stands in the way of the imminent harm. At other times, we haven’t necessarily done something contrary to Scripture, but our actions are not God’s best for us. He doesn’t just want you to live a good or mediocre life; He wants the best for you. He gives you opportunities to grow in your faith. So God allows hardship and suffering to come into your life to strengthen your character.
Hebrews 12:7-11 expounds on the words from Proverbs by saying, “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their Father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 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 spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 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.”
We Should Be Willing to Receive God’s Discipline.
God’s discipline, specifically in punishment for sin, is good. It lets you know that your Father is watching and you’re not alone. It reminds you that your good Father in heaven cares for you. If he didn’t discipline you, that’s when you should be worried. Be concerned when He takes His hand off you and lets you go your own way. When God responds to your sin with reproof, you can receive it as His child and praise Him for it.
Be careful not to project your earthly father’s mistakes on your heavenly Father. God will never fly out of control or rage at you. He will never tell you that you are worthless. His discipline is always loving and corrective. It will always be intended to lift you up, not to tear you down.
Sometimes, God allows you to get caught in a sin, but it’s His mercy. For example, if you get caught looking at porn on your computer, it may mercifully keep you from continuing to travel down that road to adultery and losing your family. Likewise, it’s good to get caught in unethical accounting practices at work because it might keep you out of jail. God always brings that which is in the darkness out into the light because he can deal with it in the light.
We Should Invite God’s Discipline When we Fail.
Proverbs 3:11 says, “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke.” The fool rejects the discipline of God. Foolish people respond in pride and deny that sin happened. They might try to mislabel or make excuses for their sin. Ultimately, they run from responsibility and shift blame.
As God’s children, we have the opportunity to do the opposite. The wise man receives the Lord’s discipline in humility and takes ownership of his failure. He can admit that he has sinned and ask for forgiveness. He accepts the consequences, takes accountability for his actions, and chooses to be grateful for the correction and learns from it.
Next steps
If you’ve yet to place your faith in Jesus, you can admit you have sinned and accept the sacrifice of Christ as an expression of God’s love for you, believing in Him today for salvation. Maybe God’s loving destruction has made it difficult for you to walk through life. He did this so you could see your need for Him and come to repentance. You can do that today!
Even after salvation, his discipline is given to instruct us so we might learn from our mistakes and live a life of favor and abundance. Believe that God knows what’s best for you! Then, as you humbly accept His rebuke and change your ways, you can experience a new measure of goodness and holiness in His will for your life.
