Abba's Discipline

Recently, the Lord gave me a vision to teach me about discipline and His heart behind it. He showed me a girl attempting to climb the counter in her kitchen. Her dad told her to stop and warned her that she could get hurt if she kept trying to climb. When her dad turned his back, the girl continued climbing the counter until she eventually fell. She immediately started crying, and her dad came running. The father picked her up and checked for injuries. He asked if her head hurt. He made sure no bones were broken. He checked for bruises and scratches. He put Band-Aids on her wounds. Then, after he made sure she was okay, he disciplined her. He reminded her that is what happens when she’s disobedient, when she thinks she knows best. This is what happens when she doesn’t listen to her dad. 

I quickly realized the girl was just like me, and the dad was just like my Abba. There have been many times in my life where God has told me not to do something, and I’ve done it anyway. There have been times He’s told me to do something, and I haven’t. Every time I don’t obey Him, something goes wrong. Every time I disobey, I end up getting hurt. I convince myself I know better, and I suffer the consequences. By this point, God shouldn’t even come running. He should just leave me to sit in the mess I’ve created, but He never does. I’ve seen God do exactly what He showed me in my vision. I’ve disobeyed Him. I’ve climbed the counter. I’ve fallen. And He always comes running. He fixes what’s broken. He heals my wounds. He cares for me before He disciplines me. Then, when the time is right, He shows me what I did wrong. He rebukes me lovingly. He shows me the consequences, and He counsels me through my disobedience. He does it because He loves me. Not to shame me. Not to prove a point. But to make me holier and more like Him. The author of Hebrews spells it out for us:

“‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.’

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order 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 12:5-11

How kind of the Lord to discipline us for our good. He disciplines us that we might SHARE in His holiness. How insane is that? Some parents discipline by saying “because I said so,” but God disciplines us that we might be holy as He is holy. He disciplines us with purpose and love, and He is kind, gentle, and gracious in His chastening. What a joy to be disciplined by this kind of Father! What a joy to be His legitimate children! 

Being disciplined is never going to be fun because it means we’ve done something wrong. However, being disciplined will always be fruitful because the one giving it is perfect in all His ways. His disposition towards us is love, and everything He does flows from that. It truly is a gift to be disciplined by our Father. 

Lord, I pray that you would make us obedient children who listen to what you say the first time you say it. But when we don’t, I pray we would run to you for healing and that we would receive your correction willingly. I pray that you would discipline us so we can share in your holiness, and I pray that we would submit to you and experience life abundant.