What are some of the words we do not like to hear? Hospital? Cancer? Unemployed? Death? Punishment? Depression? Recession? Here is a word we may not like to hear and certainly would rather not experience it. Occurring frequently in the Old Testament, it is also spoken of in various ways in the New Testament. In today's reading, the word 'discipline' is used 10 times. In the KJV, the word is 'chastening'. Either word is something not many people like. But the word in the original actually means 'child training'. Is punishment the only kind of training? Certainly not. Any parent who believes that could only be described as sadistic. Child training has many aspects. Guidance, counsel, and instruction are all included. Only when continued disregard for those important parts of training does punishment in one form or another enter into it. Our Heavenly Father does discipline His children but with a definite purpose in mind - to make us more like His Son, Jesus Christ. He doesn't let us go along on our own road without doing something about it. What did David say? 'Day and night your hand was heavy upon me. ' (Psalm 32:4) Our reading speaks of the Lord disciplining those He loves. We need to remember who is doing the disciplining. If it is the Lord, then He obviously knows what is best for us. And it would always be done in love. We all had fathers for a few short years (v.10) and their knowledge was imperfect. God will discipline us through our whole life. His knowledge is divinely complete. Our father's aim is our earthly future, while God's aim includes both our earthly and heavenly future. Why don't we trust Him more? A VERSE FOR TODAY: Because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son. (Herbrews12:6) |
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