Discipline is to be used for good!
How many have you have heard someone repeat this statement, “Spare the rod spoil the child”? There is a biblical verse which does apply to such a statement, and it is found in Proverbs 13:24, “Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.”
I remember as I was growing up, I would hear my parents time and time again, when they were disciplining me, say these words, “This is going to hurt me more than you.” I never really understood what they meant in making such a comment because I was the one absorbing the punishment, be it a whipping or some other disciplinary act.
Yet, as I became a parent myself, I began to realize what they may have been trying to convey to me. Carrying out discipline on one’s children is not the most enjoyable thing to be doing. It is quite painful to the heart to have to exact discipline/punishment on your child, especially when you love them as a godly parent should.
Paul talks about the discipline our heavenly Father needs to carry out on us His dear children at times. In Hebrews 12:5-11, we read these words given to Paul by the Lord, “And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
God is a god of love, and His desire is to see us flourish and grow as we live to glorify Him and be disciples of Christ in this world. Many people feel God is punishing them when things go wrong in their lives, or they suffer a loss. It is not the true will of the Father to see us endure pain and suffering in our lives, yet, when it happens for whatever reason it might be, either because of His discipline or the consequences of our own actions, He is faithful to be with us and lovingly care for us. God’s discipline is ALWAYS metered out, when necessary, for our good and we must believe and trust that this is most certainly true!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pastor McCarty