Do we embrace discipline? Do we receive rebuke?
The bible is clear in stating that we must not despise the Lord’s discipline nor resent His rebuke – they are His teaching tools. If we are to become wise, we must heed these things. Like the toddler who touches the hot stove with disregard for his parent’s warnings, we can be hurt if we do not listen to our Father’s correction. A father will correct the child that he loves to prevent him from harm. In like manner, God’s discipline is one of the strongest indicators of His love for us (Hebrews 12:6 & 10).
The bible frequently compares our relationship to God as that of child to parent. We know that an unruly child will require frequent and strong discipline and correction where a more compliant child can be taught with infrequent and mild correction. If we are compliant with God’s will we will be sensitive to His slightest discipline. Of course if we do not respond to that discipline it will get stronger and stronger until we do.
We should consider ourselves blessed if we are corrected by our heavenly Father (Job 5:17, Ps. 94:12). In fact, if we are not experiencing the discipline of God to one degree or another, we should suspect that our relationship to Him is not right. The range of correction indicated by the bible goes from the “Still, small voice” to absolute catastrophe. Scripture is the primary vehicle through which God conveys His correction, as Paul states in 2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”. It is up to us how much discipline he needs to provide to make us comply.
Father – You are my Father, my God. Help me to recognize your correction today so that I may know your great love for me. Open my heart to accept discipline and rebuke so that I may truly be wise. Amen.
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