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THE DISCIPLINE OF GOD
By Marilyn LaStrape
What comes to your mind when you hear
the word “discipline”? There is a major difference between
discipline and punishment. Discipline, according to Vine’s
Dictionary is “saving the mind”, primarily, “an admonishing
or calling to soundness of mind, or to self-control.”
Punishment denotes vengeance, penalty, and God’s reprobation
or condemnation.
God will
punish all the disobedient in the day of judgment. In the
parable of the judgment of the nations in Matthew 25:31-46,
Jesus draws us a picture of the sheep on the right,
signifying the obedient, and the goats on the left
signifying the disobedient. The second half of this
judgment scene describes the disobedience of the goats. The
question is asked why they are being condemned. His
response is, “Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly,
I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the
least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ “And these will
go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into
eternal life.” (Matthew 25:45-46) Peter states it this
way: “The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of
temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for
the day of judgment.” (II Peter 2:9)
God
disciplines those of us whom He loves “in the here and
now”. The writer of the book of Hebrews says, “My son, do
not despise the discipline of the Lord, nor be discouraged
when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He
chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.”
(Hebrews 12:5-6)
The
discipline of God is evident in II Samuel 24 when David
directs Joab to go and number the children of Israel. Joab
tried to tell David this was totally unnecessary and not a
good idea at all. However, David’s word prevailed, so Joab
and the captains of the army went out to count the people of
Israel. It took them 9 months and 20 days to accomplish
this useless task!
After Joab
had given David the sum of the number of the people, David’s
heart condemns him, and he told the Lord he had sinned
greatly. The next day Gad the prophet came to David and
stated the Lord had said, “Go and tell David, ‘Thus says the
Lord: I offer you three things; choose one of them for
yourself, that I may do it to you.” (II Samuel 24:12)
David’s choices were:
- three
years of famine,
- three
months of fleeing from his enemies, or
- three
days of plague.
David chose
the three days of plague. After he has made his choice and
God’s discipline begins to be rendered, David pleaded with
God to let his sin be upon him and his father’s house. He
then made a sacrifice to God, prayed for the land, and the
plague was withdrawn from Israel.
God’s
discipline regulates Christian behavior. Discipline causes
us to impose the will of God on our lives. Paul wrote to
the church in Corinth, “But I discipline my body and bring
it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I
myself should become disqualified.” (II Corinthians 9:27)
God allows
us to be tested through trials in order to get us into the
way of His choosing. These trials are designed to discipline
us in order that we might become partakers of His divine
holiness. There is always advantage in adversity. James
1:2-3 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall
into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith
produces patience.”
God uses us
to accomplish His purpose and perfects us through the
experiences in our lives. This dimension of God’s
discipline requires a faith rooted in the knowledge of the
plan and purpose of God. We understand He is fulfilling His
purpose for creating us. “And we know that all things work
together for good to those who love God, to those who are
the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
In the book
of Hebrews, we are given a very pointed and direct
revelation as to why it is vital to receive the discipline
of God. Hebrews 12:7-8, “If you endure chastening, God
deals with you as with sons, for what son is there whom a
father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening,
of which all have become partakers, then you are
illegitimate and not sons.” Verse 11 further validates the
reason for God’s discipline, “Now no chastening seems to be
joyful for the present, but grievous; nevertheless,
afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to
those who have been trained by it.”
Discipline
is an expression of God’s love. God says “No” to any
request that is less than His best for us.
This
article is copyrighted by the author. All Rights Reserved. No
part of this article may be reprinted without permission of the
author.
©Copyright 2004
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