Discipline

No discipline seems pleasant at time, but painful. Discipline can be harsh, soul tormenting but the end of the process is a great relief. It produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it and those will come away stronger, putting on the shield of resistance to trample the weakness.

"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Hebrew 12:5-6

Our God is not just a loving God but a loving Father. He knows our weakness and fragility and he wants to train us. His discipline makes us the legitimate children and true sons and daughters of Him. God disciplines us for good, that we may share in His holiness.

If we rant that our earthly discipline is too much to bear, remember Jesus endured the cross and scorned its shame yet Jesus didn't lose heart. At the end of the day, He sat down at the right hand of the throne of God, receiving the full rewards from his Abba Father. That's what it called, "Fought the good fight." But Jesus' fight can never be comparable to ours. He fights to give salvation, but we fight to receive salvation.

God, discipline me.