My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. –Proverbs 3:11 & 12, NIV 2010
Well, who has been smacked? Whupped? Or even scolded?
You hate those, right?
And we know parents do that because they love us (though sometimes, they seem to be unreasonable, if you tell me). They’re not perfect, but they do those things (most of the time) because they want us to grow and become healthy and mature adults. Even if we honestly hate…erm…dislike to be disciplined, we know that there is a benefit-not today, but tomorrow, when we’re alone.
Same thing with God. We are not punished, mind you (our punishment has been sealed in Christ), but we do tend to misbehave on our own. Even so, when we come to Christ, we don’t have to pay for our sins anymore, but we do have to deal with the consequences of it. It’s impressive that God really takes the time to craft us a new image and a new You.
Hebrews 12:7 says, “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?” That means, if we’re disciplined, we’re blessed! Be it for taking a small candy from a store, or robbing a bank (please don’t even dare to do that), God has to smack us because He loves us so.
Love is disciplined…