03/05/2026
Are you in the midst of some trauma in your life? Are you looking to God and asking Him, “Why Lord? aren’t I your child?” Well of course the answer to this question is that He loves us too much not to discipline or teach us. Even though the storms in our lives are meant to teach and perfect us, they can sure feel like pure punishment can’t they? But amidst these hardships and various forms of discipline, we should never lose sight of the fact that we are indeed the beloved children 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 result was that it taught us to obey, and to be better people, but it also brought order and stability to our 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 notes. 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 afterschool 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 was a fake and she sent to the principal’s office where I received detention, but worse than that, the principal called my mother. All day I dreaded going home, and when at last I walked in the front door my mother met me there, and scolded me before giving me more bad news... she said, “Wait till your father gets home!” The trouble I was in 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 that 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 emanate 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 parents, our punishments by God aren’t without an end, nor purpose, and in the end we always feel loved. God’s 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 further instruction... and correction. When faced with right and wrong, or honorable vs. dishonorable, how will we choose to behave?
“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 is meant to perfect us, and it is rendered because God love’s us... not out of dislike or hatred. He abhors our sin, but he loves us. After all, He sent His perfect Son to redeem us, serve as our example, and to take on our sin. He sent Him to save you and me from the poor choices we have made, 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, let’s look for God’s handiwork as we are being disciplined. Let’s receive His instruction, but ultimately, let’s listen for that final sentence of correction ... “Do you understand your punishment and that this is because I love you?”
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the suffering I will 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 punishing me. 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 what I have done wrong. I trust Lord that although my answer will be “Yes”, that your response will be “You are my beloved child, with you I am well pleased.” On that day of forgiveness Father, and at that instant when I feel the cleansing blood of Jesus, I will lift your name, worship you, and pray that those I left behind, and who mourn or suffer because of my earthly passing, will see you in the midst their own suffering and punishment. Merciful and Good are you Holy Father, and perfect is your instruction that leads to my good judgement. So it will be that as I stand before you with Jesus I will experience your goodness, mercy, grace, and love in all of their fullness.
“Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves;
therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty.”
Job 5:17 ESV
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
Ephesians 6:4 ESV
Amen! Amen!
Rich Forbes