DEVOTION – DAY 48

Hebrews 12:11 – “Good discipline”

 

Hebrews 12:11: “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.”

 

Just as parents sometimes discipline their children for their own good, the writer of Hebrews writes “that God disciplines us for our good in order that we can share in His holiness” (Hebrews 12:10b). I recall that when I was in school, some of us students had misbehaved. As punishment, the teacher made us stand in the school courtyard for an hour as the rest of the class went back into the classroom. I remembered that I was very embarrassed by this mark of disgrace. After the hour was up, the teacher gave us a stern reminder that he would not tolerate our behavior again and he threatened a worse punishment. It taught me a good lesson never to misbehave again. As Hebrews 12:10-11 tells us, God allows us to be disciplined for our own good. The discipline can be painful whilst we experience it. But because the discipline is intended to teach us a valuable life lesson, it will help us to avoid the same mistake in the future. It will remind us to do what is right. And avoid doing what we know is wrong.

Why must God discipline us? God disciplines us “because the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastens everyone he accepts as His son” (Hebrews 12:6). God loves us, He does not sit and do nothing and allow our sinful habits and behavior to lead us on a path of self-destruction. Instead, out of His love for us, God allows us to suffer the consequences of our actions. Consider it as His discipline for us and it is for our good. It will cause us to remember not to make the same mistake to sin again. But we sometimes do not learn from our mistakes and we sin again. When that happens, we suffer the consequences and the discipline until we learn.

What are we to learn? We are to learn that when we do something wrong, it affects our relationship and fellowship with God. God hates sin. Sin grieves Him. Because God loves us, He disciplines us so that we learn not to sin again. It drives us to confess the sin and repent. Then God restores us and we enjoy His peace. That is the purpose of His discipline. To restore us to righteousness and peace. Is there any sin you have committed that you need to confess and repent? If you are undergoing God’s discipline, will you learn from it? Will you thank God for His discipline? It shows that He loves you.

 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for your gracious discipline whenever we do something wrong. We know that the discipline is for our good. Help us to confess and repent so that you may restore us and enjoy your peace. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. What do you understand by this verse “that God disciplines us for our good in order that we can share in His holiness?”
  2. Share an occasion where you have been disciplined by your parents for your own good.
  3. How does discipline help us for our own good?