Echoes of Truth
February 23rd
Theme: Discipline is also Love
God never withholds from His child that which His love and wisdom call good – Elizabeth Elliot.
If there is anything a child will always frown at, it is probably discipline. No one readily awaits moments of rebuke, correction, punishment, and all other relatives like sweet treats. Discipline is something that injures self-ego and diminishes its pride. Self will always frown against the rebuke of the Holy Spirit and the rigours of His discipline.
Taking a reflection from King Saul, when Prophet Samuel came to rebuke him for being disobedient to God’s instruction to totally eradicate the Amalekites, Saul was more interested in keeping face and looking good before his subjects. He responded to the Lord’s message with an attempt to save face.
Saul told Samuel, Saul replied, “I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord your God (1 Samuel 15:30). He hated that Samuel rebuked him for the decision he made in front of his cabinet men whom he honoured at the expense of his obedience to God. He lost God’s covering in return.
In Hebrews 12: 5-13, it is revealed that discipline is meant to work out strength in us (vs 12-13). This strength is what keeps us going, persevering in our walk with the Lord to become women who partake of God’s holiness and bear the fruit of righteousness (vs 10-11).
In other words, discipline is God’s way of making us more like Himself, drawing closer towards the perfection of Christ who learnt obedience to God through the sufferings of discipline (Hebrews 5:8). God is interested in revealing His love to us by the measure of disciplines He takes us through like our Lord Jesus.
God sees discipline as a good thing because He only disciplines the child that He loves and the one who submits to it like Jesus did, will partake of the revelations of His love and wisdom. This brings us to the experience of eternal life (Hebrews 12:9).
At every opportunity God gets to discipline you through teaching, rebuke, correction, and training , always remember that you are going through that because God, your Father, loves you dearly, the discipline is good for you, and you are walking in His righteousness and being equipped to do His will at all times (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Listen to the message by Elisabeth Eliot on Child Training and Self-Denial. How would you position God’s love and His Parenting in the light of this understanding? Love Came Down – Lenny LeBlanc | An Evening of Hope Concert
Let Us Pray:
Father, thank You for Your show of love when you discipline me. For loving me enough to save me from my destructive habits. Forgive me for every time I have disregarded Your discipline. Help me to live a life receptive to Your dealings. May I never become prideful and disobedient to You. Thank You Abba for Your love and discipline in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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