My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. 

Proverbs 3:11-12

The 5th key to spiritual growth (find the other four here) is to embrace the loving discipline of God the Father.

Notice I did not say punishment. Punishment was taken by Christ on the cross for us. Instead, think of loving correction. 

Also notice that the word discipleship is closely tied to the word discipline. To be a disciple of Jesus is to walk in the disciplines of the Spirit. Like an athlete that must discipline his body to succeed, God disciplines his body (The Church) to conform it to the shape he wants it to be in. 

God’s discipline is both positive and negative.

Positive in how he teaches his ways, negative in how he corrects us when we get off track.

As an imperfect person (all of us!) who walks with a perfect God there is bound to be some correction needed.

• If we disagree with God we are always the one in the wrong.
• If we rebel against his commands and promises he will correct us as a loving Father.
• When we get off the path he disciplines us by bringing us back to the path. Sometimes kicking and screaming and other times we willingly take his hand back to the narrow path he has for us.

This is discipline, this is discipleship.

Now here is the hard part: “do not despise the Lord’s discipline.” Often discipline is painful, uncomfortable and a shot to our pride. But as the writer to the Hebrews (12:5-11) says:

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,

  nor be weary when reproved by him.

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

  and chastises every son whom he receives.”

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

God’s discipline is an act of God’s love and protection.

Like a parent who disciplines a small child for running into the street God often pulls us out of the street and puts us in timeout. But he does it with an embrace of love.

He loves you and is correcting you for your good and for your flourishing. 

If you are a Christian, God is parenting you, discipling you and when needed he corrects you.

So what is your job in all of this?

1. Walk in discipleship to avoid discipline. Pursue Jesus and adjust your opinions and actions to his.
2. When you get off track and God corrects you with the Word or circumstances, “don’t despise” his correction but embrace it.
3. Thank God for loving you enough to parent you.
4. Remember He is a good Father who loves you more than you love yourself.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Harvey