Man, I don’t like disciplining my children.  I really don’t.  I don’t think that any parent does. That’s the hard work of parenting.  No parent like having to do that part of the work.

I will all of parenting was bubble gum and fun and games. But, there are times (lots of times) when you have to say no. When you have to punish.  When you have to be that old oak tree that our kids bang their heads on to learn that they can’t just do what what they want.

We have to discipline our kids.

Why?

Because we want them to grow into fully formed, functioning, moral adults and citizens.

Well, what’s our heavenly Father’s goal for us as Christians?  For us to grow into mature disciples.  And that means, sometimes, yes, He will discipline us.  Listen to what it says in  Psalm 94: 12-15:

Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law, to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked. For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.

God’s desire for us isn’t for us just be happy. It’s for us to be holy.  It’s for us to be different. It’s for us to be followers of Christ, with all that we are.

Why?

Because that’s where life is truly found, in Christ.  In following Him. So, just as a parent will discipline their child to get them to the point that we want them to be as a mature adults, so will God do with us, getting us down the road of faith.

God’s desire for us is for us to be faithful.  Because that’s where life is found. Totally and completely in Him.

Today, if He convicts you.  Or challenges you. Or guides you down a path that you don’t think you want to go, thank Him for that, even if you don’t feel like it. Because He’s growing you. He’s forming you. He’s helping you to be the person that He made you to be.

He loves you. Just like as a parent our discipline can be the greatest sign of love to our kids?  So is it for God.

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