And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” [Hebrews 12.5-6]
Let us be very clear here: discipline is no random act by God.
Discipline is God's response to sin. Yes, God disciplines those He loves, but there is no need for discipline if there is no room for improvement. If there is room for improvement, that means there exists that which does not please God, and so, there is sin. Discipline is for sin.
So, let us back up a bit in Hebrews 12 and look for sin... because sin requires discipline... Verse 1 reveals it:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. [Hebrews 12.1]
Why does sin trip us up? Because of the discipline attached to it! Deuteronomy 28 explains all the "tripping up" that disobedience to God brings. It is not pretty! But it is necessary AND it proves that God loves us enough to make us aware that we have sinned and therefore need to repent.
So what does faith have to do with it then? Just everything. Faith is what carries us through the discipline - knowing that right-standing with God is at hand - if we repent.
But faith goes further than that. If we can accept that Jesus died for our sin, then faith is the ridiculously assumptive idea that Jesus suffered on our behalf and therefore freed us from the penalty we deserved. The benefit is not automatic, but is activated by faith.
Discipline reveals our need to repent, believe in Jesus, and receive the right-standing with God the punishment upon Jesus bought for us. Discipline reveals the need for faith in our lives. Discipline reminds us to believe. Discipline reminds us that repentance and faith in Christ is that "stripping off every weight that slows us down..."
When faith is first properly applied to sin, then faith can move on to move mountains.
The Father disciplines those He loves to bring them to maturity. That maturity is to look and act like God Himself (as seen in the life of Jesus Christ).
Maybe I am misunderstanding all this, but it seems to line up with the Word of God.
Father, help me to receive Your great love in disciplining me and act upon it by stripping off every weight that slows me down and keeps me from looking like Jesus.
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