Just by using the word "discipline" in the same phrase
with the word "God," our mind immediately uses the word
"punishment" as a synonym. The phrase God disciplines
us means exactly the same as God punishes us in nearly every persons
mind!
However, the Bible draws a big distinction between "punishment"
and "discipline." God promises those who trust in the
death of Christ's death for their forgiveness will not face punishment,
since Christ took care of their punishment. He says it this way
in His Word "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for
those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1, pg. 955)
In that sense punishment is basically a backward-looking action
of someone paying you back for what you did. The result is fear
on the part of the one being punishment.
On the other hand, discipline is administered by a loving forward
looking parent with an eye on helping the child become all that
they can become. If this distinction is not made, the pain that
always accompanies discipline can be erroneously interpreted as
an indication that God has withdrawn His love.
Fortunately, there is one chapter in the Bible that speaks
nearly exclusively to this parental action of God. The first eleven
verses of Hebrews chapters 12 help us understand this potentially
confusing area of God's dealings with us.
Take a moment to read over the passage below and then answer some
of the questions that follow to help you in the processing of
all the truths in these verses:
"For whom the Lord loves He disciplines and He scourges every
son whom He receives. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating
you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If
you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then
you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we
have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected
them for it. However much more should we submit to the Father
of our spirits and live? Our fathers disciplined us for a little
while was they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good,
that we may share in his holiness. 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. (Hebrews 12:4-11, pg. 1017)
1. Why does God discipline us? (Hebrews 12:6)
2. How is His love demonstrated through His discipline of us?
3. If God didn't try to stop you when you went in a direction
that would hurt you, what would that show about your relationship
to Him? (Hebrews 12:8)
4. As God looks ahead to our future, what is His goal for the
discipline He sends to us? (Hebrews 12:10,11)
5. From the opening paragraph of this Bible Study, how would you
explain the difference between punishment and discipline using
your own words?
6. Finally, in just a few sentences, write a prayer to God giving
Him specific reasons why your thankful that you can count on Him
to discipline you.
Learning to see pain as indication of God's love instead of a
sign that it has been removed is one of the first steps of maturation
in your view of God. May God increasingly give you that perspective.