Character and Discipline · Christian Life

Do discipline and correction teach us anything?

6 min read, approximately

“My son, despise not the chastening of Jehovah; Neither be weary of his reproof: For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth, Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding. For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, And the profit thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: And none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her.” (Proverbs 3:11-15)

Looking back

‘Go study,’ ‘Stop playing and do your homework,’ ‘That is not how you eat,’ ‘Do not mistreat girls,’ ‘Lower your voice,’ ‘When grown-ups talk, children keep quiet,’ ‘Listen and obey,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not do that… That is bad manners,’ ‘I’ll be right back; I’m getting the belt!’ ‘You eat with us at the table,’ ‘Playtime is over!’ ‘Brush your teeth!’ ‘I gave you an order,’ ‘Be back here at 10pm,’ ‘Call me as soon as you arrive,’ ‘When you arrive or enter somewhere, greet people, even in an elevator,’ ‘Even if you do not have time, if someone needs help, stop and help them’…

Did our parents do this because they wanted something bad for us? Certainly,

“He that spareth his rod hateth his son; But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” (Proverbs 13:24)

That is why, when we were children, we received many instructions and admonitions about what was right and what was not. Failing to follow those instructions to the letter brought corrective measures, prohibitions, punishments, or beatings. If we remember, we did not like them, but they always produced the expected result. Because many parents fulfill the task of teaching, guiding, directing, disciplining, and correcting in their own way, many children grow up with good habits and good character, acquire a sound sense of ethics, morality, and respect… and today are agents of change in our society.

However, this is not only for our children

It also applies to all of us who have believed that Jesus Christ is our Savior:

“because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus [as] Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved:” (Romans 10:9)

“But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)

“And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.” (Galatians 4:6-7)

Now… let us think about this for a moment

“Or what man is there of you, who, if his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone; or if he shall ask for a fish, will give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:9-11)

Yes, but why do we need the Lord’s discipline and correction?

\1. Let us be calm… God knows what he is doing

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

\2. There is always a purpose behind everything

“And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, [even] to them that are called according to [his] purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

\3. Let us allow the Lord to guide us

“Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why didst thou make me thus?” (Romans 9:20)

The Lord will use what he considers necessary and appropriate to discipline and correct us, such as God’s Word, the Bible… For what purpose?

“Every scripture inspired of God [is] also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Conclusion

So before complaining and thinking, ‘Why is this happening to me?!’ let us ask ourselves whether we are indeed in the Lord’s hands to be disciplined and corrected.

“And you have already forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as children: My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or lose heart when he rebukes you, for the Lord disciplines the one he loves and scourges everyone he receives as a child. If you endure discipline, God treats you as children, for what child is there whom a father does not discipline? But if you are left without discipline, in which everyone has shared, then you are illegitimate and not children.

Moreover, we had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more obey the Father of spirits and live? They disciplined us for a few days as they thought best, but he does so for our benefit, so that we may share in his holiness. Indeed, no discipline seems joyful at the time, but painful; afterward, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:5-11)

All of this,

“till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; but speaking truth in love, may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, [even] Christ;” (Ephesians 4:13-15)

So, do discipline and correction teach us anything?

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May God continue to bless you, and may you keep having an excellent day in Christ Jesus!