Being Disciplined by God

Have you been punished by God because of your sin?

I have.

I have sinned and have borne the punishment from God. It is not easy during those times. However, it is a great encouragement to know that God punished me because he loves me as a father loves their children.

I have been a father for 3 children. As you might have already known, my elder son is the most challenging among the 3 children. Guess what, he got the most punishment from me. Not because I hated him, instead, he is the one I love most because he is my first child.

If you are being disciplined today, I would like you to be encouraged by the following scriptures (NIV) from Hebrew 12:5 - 13:

HEB 12:5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:

"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,

and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

HEB 12:6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,

and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."

HEB 12:7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 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 our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 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.

HEB 12:12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 "Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.