“and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.” Hebrews 12:5-6 NASB
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 12:11) NASB
Ouch. Correction hurts. Discipline doesn’t feel good. But God’s discipline, or chastisement, is not borne out of hatred. It is borne out of love. For God is love. He is the perfect Father. He is a just God; He is totally fair. He is loving, but His is also fair – even when fair is hard. Even when fair is tough. Even when correction comes with pain.
The Bible teaches that God disciplines, or chastises, those He loves. Despite how awful it may feel to be chastised by God, know that He does it with the ultimate goal of bringing forth the “fruit of righteousness.”
A man who was severely burned in a house fire described the debrieding process of his skin as indescribably, excruciatingly painful. But he understood he needed to undergo the ongoing treatment to be physically healed from the fire. Wikipedia online describes debrieding as “…the medical removal of dead, damaged, or infected tissue to improve the healing potential of the remaining healthy tissue.”
God wants to remove the dead, damaged, or infected sins and issues from our lives so we can live the righteous lives He has called us to live as followers of Jesus Christ.
Is there an area or areas of your life in which God has been trying to correct you? Are you resisting Him? Give God full access to your life, repent from your sins, and learn how to walk in His ways. You will discover His ways are always best, and His plan for your life far exceeds anything you could have imagined.
Please visit Walk by Faith Ministry at https://www.walkbyfaithministry.com.