Saturday, February 09, 2013

God's Discipline = His love?




Hebrews 12:5 - 8 (NIV) says, And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
    and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”
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.


Sometimes there is a big debate over whether God disciplines or punished His children for their actions. Hebrews makes it clear that God will allow us to go so far but at some point God draws the line and if we cross it we end up under His discipline/punishment. There are times when God needs to reign us in as Galatians 6:7 (AMP) says, Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked [a]by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) God won't allow His name to be mocked, especially by His kids! When we feel God's punishment for something we have done on a continual basis, just remember - God is showing His love by correcting us. Don't resent it.


The fact He does this shows we ARE His kids! We can take comfort from that, and take it as proof of our salvation when the enemy tries to plant seeds of doubt in our minds such as, "You can't be saved! Look what you've been doing!" We can remember this passage and say, "You're wrong, I am a child of God because He loved me enough to come after me!"

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