1 June 2018

THE DISCIPLINE OF GOD

By John Ollis

There is no training for marriage and parenting, other than observation, either as we are growing up in our own family, or seeing how others do it, sadly we often learn how NOT to do certain things.  One area that I really did not enjoy was the responsibility of disciplining my children when they were naughty. Both our sons, as is typical in every family were very different in personality, temperament and disposition, and I had to learn the best methods through trial and error how to discipline them.
There were some Biblical principles that I understood like for example: Proverbs 22:6 NKJV Train up a child in the way he should go ,and when he is old he will not depart from it.  The MESSAGE Bible says: Point your kids in the right direction—when they’re old they won’t be lost.  So I had the responsibility before the Lord to give my sons TRAINING
Solomon goes on and says in Proverbs 13:24 NKJV He who spares his rod hates his son,
But he who loves him disciplines him promptly, the MESSAGE Bible puts it this way “A refusal to correct is a refusal to love; love your children by disciplining them”. So If I LOVE my children I MUST correct them., and I should do it PROMPTLY.
I had to realise what Solomon said in Proverbs 22:15 NKJV is true  Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it from him. again the MESSAGE Bible puts it so well Young people are prone to foolishness and fads; the cure comes through tough- minded discipline. So as a parent I have to DRIVE out the foolishness and rebellion that is in the heart of every child, and this is done by discipline.
It is a tremendous challenge and responsibility to be a parent, and I am sure I made many mistakes, but I thank God both my sons are in the Kingdom of God today, loving and serving the Lord. I learnt NOT to discipline in ANGER, but seek to do it in LOVE. We would then pray together, I remember numerous times that both boys who attended a Christian School, would pray, like King David, that they had sinned against God as well as their parents I had not taught them this, but they picked it up in school. My eldest son who is almost 50 says he thanks God for the discipline I gave him, at the time I was often weeping inside and hated what I had to do, but praise God it had the right effect. Why Have I said all the above? I read just yesterday in Psalm 119:71 NKJV  It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.  The NLT expresses it like this.  My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to Your decrees. The Lord used the afflictions and sufferings in life for the psalmist to obey God’s Word.
The writer to Hebrews spells it out   for us so clearly & succinctly Hebrew 12: 5-11 NKJV And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
“My son, do not despise the chastening 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.”
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. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been TRAINED BY IT.  Although it takes up a lot of space I am going to give you the MESSAGE Bible too.So don’t feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children?
My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline,
but don’t be crushed by it either.
It’s the child he loves that he disciplines;
the child he embraces, he also corrects.
God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.

The writer begins by challenging us not to react God’s dealings even when it includes chastening & rebuke & scourging (whipping like Jesus experienced with the whip that contained bone and iron in it, that caused His back to become like a “ploughed field).                             JESUS DOES THAT BECAUSE HE LOVES US. 
Jesus needs to drive foolishness and rebellion out of our lives so we can be TRANSFORMED INTO THE IMAGE OF JESUS.

WHAT IS THE RESULT OF THIS DISCIPLINE?

  • We can be partakers  of His Holiness v.10
  • We can experience the PEACEABLE FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Please recognise our God is sovereign, and He brings these challenges into our life for a purpose, don’t REACT, but RESPOND, the process may be painful but the end result wil be GOOD