Thursday: Forgiveness and Consequences: Navigating Sin's Aftermath

Week 11:  God's Loving Discipline

BIG IDEA: A loving God will slow you down and even allow suffering so that you will do things the right way with the right heart.

Scripture: "For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." - Hebrews 12:6

Reflection:  A Good Father will discipline and train his children.  If you want to ruin your kids, neglect discipline. If you want to raise up your kids to change the world, discipline them….not out of anger or frustration, but out of love and patience. As a dad, I’ve found that disciplining has been incredibly inconvenient. Taking away TV, video game, and iphone privileges creates a void where kids need to do something else. Disciplining your children to do chores means that you have to give up areas that you could just take care of yourself and do a better job.  Watching your kids cry sometimes brings fear, wondering if your children will still love you and want to be around you.  If anyone gets this, it’s God……our Father in heaven.  And just like we inconvenience ourselves to discipline and train ourselves out of love, God does the same for us. It might produce pain. It might produce tears. And we might yell back at God like a teenager and say “I hate you!”.  But we need to remember that He is slowing us down and allowing suffering at times because He loves us. He welcomes us to “come as we are”.  But He doesn’t want us to just “stay as we are.”

Application: Consider if there's an area where God might be disciplining you out of love rather than punishing you.

Devotional Jam for the Day: “Canvas and Clay” by Pat Barrett or “From the Inside Out” by Hillsong United

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for loving me enough to discipline me when I need it.