When I think of my Dad, I always remember him of how strict he was and how much he disciplined me and raised me with proper values. When I was a kid, I hated some of the way he dealt with me, now as a grown up, I am thankful for the way he brought me up in life, I thank God for giving me a good parent’s who disciplined me at the right time so that I did not go the wrong way.
If our earthly father is so much caring for our well-being, our Eternal father Jesus is even more caring for his children.
'because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” ' Hebrews 12:6
God disciplines only the One he loves and the only one he accepts as his Son. So, if you are a child of God, expect God to discipline you.
We get disciplined when we struggle against Sin, He wants his children to be righteous and walk to the path of Holiness like how he is, he does not want us to struggle with Sin, which comes against the path of righteousness and holiness.
'In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 'Hebrews 12:4
Our earthly fathers can beat us / shout at us and do many things according to their characters and style.
But how does God discipline us?
'Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? ' Hebrews 12:7
So, the word says “'Endure hardship as discipline”,
Hardship comes to us in a time of trials or stress in our life, when we go thru that we forget some basics
We wonder if God is still in control ?, Why did I get this trail ?, Does God loves me ?, Why did he allow this for me ?. We ask many of these questions to ourselves or tell others about the our situation to others.
Remember God is not the author of any trails or stress situation, Its Satan who is the author / creator of things like that. God can use the mistakes we make to work out his ultimately good purpose. This comes to thru discipline he gives in our life.
We have always known Hardship comes from Satan, we also read here, Hardship comes by God’s discipline. So how do we differentiate between both.
You would have seen Babies cry; it cries for everything. When it needs Milk, it cries and when it’s in pain or issue it cries, only the mother knows the differentiation of cry for milk vs. cry due to some pain or issue.
Likewise, as children of God, God gives us the wisdom to differentiate the Hardship because of God’s discipline vs. Hardship of Satan, if you lack that wisdom ask God to give you that.
'If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ' James 1:5
Hardship because of Discipline
So, let’s understand why God disciplines his children. No father will discipline his child unless he makes mistakes. God does not tolerate us to lead a life that’s double standards that leads to Sin.
'You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. ' 1 Corinthians 10:21
When we are a child of God, we are constantly challenged with the pleasures of the world, the word says
'You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. ' James 4:4
The earlier verse says “you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons”, we live a double life one with God and also want the pleasures of the world, the word says “anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”
The sin that we commit as a result of our affiliation with the worldly things, first step to sin is we are tempted to fall to that and get in to Sin
'When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. ' James 1:13-15
So it’s clear the Sin we commit is not from God “but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed”
This is the answer to many of our Questions, why God is allowing this bad things for me alone, I am child of God what did I do wrong to get this issue with me etc.. is there in James 1:14
Picturize the Shepheard and sheep, the sheep listens to Shepheard’s voice when its near or goes little far away, likewise as a Child of God when you do walk with Jesus, you will hear the Voice when you Sin or do things that’s not approved by God.
Remember the hardships are only momentary, it will disappear once we realize the sin or wrong way we do and repent for it with God. You will need to Endure the hardship that comes your way “'They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best” Hebrews 12:10
Remember God’s love is there for you, no matter how bad the Sin you committed, he will wash you and make you new person, if you repent from your heart.
Follow what James advices us to do endure the discipline
Resist the devil, He will flee from you
Repent to God for your Sin
Come near to God, he will come near you
Humble yourself to God, he will lift you up from your situation.
'Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. ' James 4:7-8,10
Hardship from Satan
God wants to bless his people, but he wants us to walk with him to get the blessings, but Satan does not want us to walk with him and receive the blessing from God. In this journey we see hardships come our way.
God does not forsake you in the hardship that you get from Satan,
'God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. ' Hebrews 6:10
God gives you the wisdom to understand these hardships that you get is from Satan to stop the blessings that God has planned. This happens thru the holy spirit which will reveal the things to you.
'However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. ' 1 Corinthians 2:9-10
God gives you the word of encouragement and guidance to endure thru the hardship as you go thru, many time he will remind you thru the word of God.
'Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ' Ephesians 6:14-15
Gods’ peace will guard you in this situation, you will not be filled with anxiety or stress as you go thru the hardship “with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” Ephesians 6:15, you will never ask this question “Why is this happening to me God? The peace from God will supress asking these questions and make you understand this hardship you go thru is for his greater blessing.
God’s grace will carry thru to endure the hardships of Satan, he will give you the strength to perceiver thru the trails to see the promised blessings in your life
'Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. ' James 1:12
Outcome of the Discipline
When we go thru the discipline, we hate them (does not matter if we are child or grown up) because it prevents us from doing what we wanted to do.
Let’s understand why he is disciplining us and not resist his actions; he does this only for our good and to the one he loves most
'My son, do not despise the Lord ’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. ' Proverbs 3:11-12
Discipline from the Lord is only for a little while, to bring the best of Lord “'They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best”
'They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. ' Hebrews 12:10
Discipline from the lord makes us lead to righteous path and once complete brings peace to us that we are free from the Sinful past we have been entangled to
'No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. ' Hebrews 12:11
As you go to the Gym to strengthen your arms and legs, its feels hard for first few days, making you sore and weak. But as you work out, it makes your body strong. Likewise, God’s discipline makes us strong by avoiding the wrong sinful paths that may come our way to lead a godly life that he plans for each of us.
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