03/05/2018
Are you in the midst of some trauma in your life? Are you looking to God and asking “Why Lord? Aren’t I your child?” Of course the answer to this question is that He loves you too much not to discipline, or teach, you. The storms in the life of a Christian are meant to teach and perfect us, but they sure feel like pure punishment don’t they? Yet, amidst the hardships and discipline, never lose sight of the fact that you are indeed a child of God.
“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?”
Hebrews 12:5-7 ESV
I grew up as one of five children. Teaching and discipline for my parents was a daily occurrence. The end result was that it taught us to obey, and to be better people, but it also brought order and stability to the house and the world around it. By way of explaining this further let me give you an example.
I was in high school and a friend asked me to skip school with him. He had arranged for a girl with great handwriting to write our excuse note. It seemed like a foolproof plan, so I had a decision to make. Would I stay in school, or drive around all day having fun. I knew that if I were caught I would get detention and possibly more, but the allure of fun outweighed my good sense. So I chose to skip school.
The morning after our romp I went to school with my forged excuse, and in short order the teacher recognized it as a fake. I was sent to the principal’s office and received detention, but worse than that, he called my mother. All day I dreaded going home, and when at last I walked in the front door my mother met me, and scolded me a bit before giving me more bad news... she said “Wait till your father gets home!” The lesson had now been escalated to one of extremes.
Later that evening my father pulled into the driveway and as I watched him from my bedroom window I could tell he was exhausted. The last thing he would want to face was the news my mother was about to give him. It didn’t take long before I heard him call out “Richy... come in here!” I walked slowly to my doom.
There was a chair in front of my parents and I was motioned to sit in it. Then I was told how disappointed they were in me and I was asked to confess all of the gory details... who I was with, why I made that decision, who wrote the note, where we had gone, and what were the repercussions to my grades at school. Then came the time for punishment. I was grounded for two weeks, and no car privileges for a month. Then the whole affair was signed and sealed by asking me, “Do you understand that what you did was wrong?”, “What should you have done?”, and, “Do you understand your punishment and that this is because we love you?”
God teaches us through discipline too, as a matter of fact, that is who we learned this skill from (see Adam and Eve). And, just as with the lessons of godly patents, our punishments by God aren’t without end, or purpose, and the end is always love. The absolute end for us is in Jesus Christ.
So we have choices to make. These are like pre-tests. If we pass them then the lesson can be skipped, and we can move on to the next, but if not then we must receive the instruction... and the correction. When faced with right and wrong, or honorable vs. dishonorable, how will we choose?
“Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”
2 Timothy 2:20-21 ESV
The purpose of discipline is not purely punitive, but to perfect us, and it is rendered because God love’s us... not out of dislike, or hate. He abhors our sin, but he loves us. After all; He sent His perfect Son to redeem us and to serve as our example, and to take on our sin. He sent Him to save you and me from the choices we make, and to show us what our discipline is intended to produce in us.
“"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
John 3:16-17 ESV
So as we suffer in this world, look for the traces of God in the midst of our tribulations. See the instruction, but ultimately, listen for that final sentence... “Do you understand your punishment and that this is because I love you?”
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the suffering I experience in my life, and help me to see you in it. There is no pain that will come to me that isn’t borne on the platter of your goodness, and love. There is no trial that comes without purpose and revelation. Deafen me Holy Father to the vile voice of Satan as he rails against you, and tries to convince me that you are vindictive, or take pleasure in my hardships. Even unto death Gracious Father I will praise your name, and seek your face in the midst of my final breath. I know you will meet me there, and ask if I understand. I trust Lord that my answer will be “Yes”, and that your response will be “You are my beloved child, with you I am well pleased.” On that day Father, and at that instant, I will lift up your name, worship you, and pray that those I left behind, and who suffer because of my death, see you in the midst their own suffering. Merciful and Good are you Holy Father, and perfect is your instruction that leads to judgement... now and forever more reigns your goodness, mercy, and grace.
Rich Forbes