Day 30: God’s Discipline
I am the oldest sibling of three boys in my family. In many ways, I was a stereotypical oldest child. I avoided getting in trouble at all costs because I hated being disciplined by my dad. Anytime my dad would spank me, he would always give one of those talks. His two favorite lines were, “Son, this is going to hurt me more than it will hurt you” and “Son, this is for your own good.” I never believed him when he said that. Unfortunately, that same dislike of discipline has often crept into my relationship with my heavenly Father.
We have not trained ourselves to love God’s discipline. I’m not saying that we should love his discipline because it's fun. I am saying that we should love it because his discipline is good. God’s people have always struggled with accepting His discipline (just take a quick read through the Old Testament).
Jeremiah recounts how the people of God were disciplined through being sent into exile in Babylon. It was painful, disheartening, terrifying, and embarrassing. It must have felt like God was altogether abandoning them. Yet in the middle of their discipline, God says something incredible: “‘For I know the plans I have for you’, declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.’” God reminded his people then and reminds us, his people today, that there is a plan in the pain of discipline. God’s plans, and yes, even His discipline, are for our good. God disciplines us to give us a great future.
Let us see trust in God’s proven character and love towards us, so that we can train ourselves to love His discipline.
Read Jeremiah 29:4-14 and Proverbs 3:12
Questions to consider:
What uncomfortable ways may God, in His love, be shaping me right now?
Prayer:
Lord, I know your ways are higher then mine. I pray that I will remember that the routines and disciplines you have for my life are for my good and for the glory of Your name. Help me today. Amen
By Pastor Christian Dawson