Does God discipline us? Why?
"LORD, blessed is the person you correct. Blessed is the person you teach from your law. You give them rest from times of trouble, until a pit is dug to trap sinners" (Psalm 94:12-13).
"Fathers, don’t make your children angry. Instead, instruct them and teach them the ways of the Lord as you raise them" (Ephesians 6:4).
"LORD, don’t correct me when you are angry. Don’t punish me when you are burning with anger. You have wounded me with your arrows. You have struck me with your hand. Because of your anger, my whole body is sick. Because of my sin, I’m not healthy. My guilt has become too much for me. It is a load too heavy to carry" (Psalm 38:1-4).
Yes, God disciplines us. He disciplines us for our own good.Does your earthly father, mother, or teacher discipline you when you do wrong? If so, this is because he or she wants you to see the error of your ways and change.
God disciplines us for our own good. Discipline is with the intent that we will turn away from sin and start obeying Him. All of God’s children are disciplined (Hebrews 12:7-8). In fact, discipline from God shows we are His true children.
While God disciplines us, He never condemns us. As followers of Jesus Christ, we will never be condemned (Romans 8:1). Discipline is focused on growth, training, and correction. Condemnation is focused on guilt, shame, and punishment. There are positives and negatives of discipline, but none of the negatives are connected with condemnation.
God disciplines us to help us grow into the people He created us to be. Through His discipline, we will be trained to follow Him. As soon as we place faith in Jesus, the Father begins disciplining us. This will continue until we are taken to be with Him in Heaven. Discipline will continue throughout our lives, but we don't need to fear it. It will help us to grow and flourish as children of God.
