This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I was impressed with what is included in what the Bible refers to as “God’s discipline.” The passage? Hebrews 12:3-17 (as a “child of God” you should read it)… “He’s a good, good Father – that’s who He is, that’s who He is!… And I’m loved by Him, that’s who I am – that’s who I am!” (Sounds like a great contemporary worship song to me!)
That passage and its context reveals His loving “discipline” is not just what he sends our way (that we might find unpleasant) in order to develop “holiness” in us… It even involves what He “allows” to come our way! (Might want to talk to Job in the Bible about that one!) Consider these words from the passage… “Consider Him, who endured FROM SINNERS such HOSTILITY against Himself, so that YOU may not grow weary of fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” (vss. 3-4) Check it out… Hebrews is a book written to suffering, persecuted Christians (cp. Hebrews 10:32-36) – they were experiencing UNJUST PERSECUTION at the hands of evil people and GOD, THEIR HEAVENLY FATHER, WAS ALLOWING IT IN ORDER TO DEVELOP GODLINESS IN THEM!” Wow! (and OUCH!)
Oh Lord, here’s my prayer, when “discipline” comes my way – whatever the source – help me to respond in a godly way! Help me to remember, “You’re a good, good Father – that’s who You are! And I’m loved by You – that’s who I am, that’s who I am!”
Coffee With The Lord 