DISCIPLINE OF THE FATHER
Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.
Deuteronomy 8:5 (NIV)
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. 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.
Hebrews 12:7-8, 11 (NIV)
My wife is a rule follower. I am not—or at least I wasn’t. She learned from an early age that there’s a way things work. Decisions matter, and what we do today shapes us into the people we become. I, however, had very little correction or discipline (gosh, none that I can even remember) in my growing-up years. I developed a pattern of doing whatever I wanted and then trying to figure out how to avoid the inevitable negative consequences.
Let’s face it: none of us have arrived, and none of us make all the right decisions. Even the rule followers need transformation and re-direction. And as a Father, God wouldn’t be a good Father without providing discipline. In fact, fatherhood is the primary way training, nurture and maturity are developed.
The Bible provides example after example of the sort of training a father exercises over a son to mold his character—whether that’s God as our Father who disciplines us for our good or our human fathers who seek to develop our maturity and the ability to navigate life.
Sadly, many people have had very negative experiences with their physical fathers—sometimes due to abuse, neglect, absence or other factors. On the other hand, God the Father is the source of truth and love (John 17:17; 1 John 4:16). And what’s more, He loves us too much to leave us alone. He corrects us lovingly to help us become the people He designed us to be.
APPLICATION: Come to God as you are. Bring to Him your weaknesses, failures, and sins. There’s no hiding! He already knows! Ask Him to guide you along a better path. And as difficult as it may be, follow His direction. The discipline and correction He gives will lead you into greater wisdom and life.
PRAYER: God, thank You for loving me so much that You don’t leave me in my sin. I have a hard time with correction, but I ask You to direct my steps and intervene in my life so I can become more like You. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?