All in Discipline

Is God Disciplining us, or Punishing Us?

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Discipline

As believers in Jesus Christ we are the children of God, and as such He loves us. As His children He has taken upon Himself the responsibility for our upbringing, and maintaining our wellbeing. This responsibility extends beyond simply clothing, feeding, and housing us… it includes our spiritual education, and discipline as well. God disciplines us to teach, and train us, which is different than punishing us which comes as a form of retribution. Discipline is administered to those we love, while punishment is put upon those who have harmed, or acted against us in some way. As believers we are disciplined by God our Father.

God Corrects His Beloved Children

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Discipline

Have we ever been through times when our sins became so intense that we cried out in pain from within the midst of them, and sobbed as we asked for God’s forgiveness and mercy? Perhaps an addiction was destroying our body, or ruining our marriage; maybe we stole or lied about something, and when found out, our transgressions brought great shame on us, or we lost our job as a result of them. The consequences of sin can be severe as God disciplines us for them. Are any of us being disciplined now? If we are, take heart for God loves you… and will bless you in your correction.

Discipline that brings Life to God’s Children

Richard Forbes
Christian , Daily Devotional , Discipline

As the children of God we are loved, but with God’s love comes His responsibility to raise us up to be righteous, and good. Raising our own children requires us to show them our love, to have patience with them, and to teach them how to behave in faith as we have learned to do. We teach them goodness, humility, and many godly things, but in order to learn these behaviors they must be obedient, and for this lesson to be mastered it often requires that they be disciplined. It is the same with our Heavenly Father as He teaches us to obey Him, and to reflect His traits and attributes… to become like Jesus. The heart of discipline is not punishment, or subservience, but instruction, and correction.