HEBREWS 12:5
"Have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as His children? My child do not make light of THE LORD'S DISCIPLINE, and do not give up when He corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child."
Why do good parents teach, instruct and discipline their children? When you were disciplined by your parents, did you interpret their correction as hatred or a lack of love? We do not stop loving our parents when we are disciplined, for the punishment was meant to save us from harm or even save our lives. In fact some forms of discipline are really an act of encouragement and love and prove the acceptance of responsibility of the parent, in this case God. As a believer you are a child of God and you must remember the Lord disciplines the ones He loves, so do not give up when He corrects you.
We should not forget the divine Word of appeal and encouragement wherein God reasons with us and addresses us as His children. Do not act with scorn or fail to submit to the correction and discipline of the Lord. Do not give up or lose courage when you are reproved or corrected by Him. Remember the Lord corrects and disciplines every one whom He loves.
Just as the Lord accepts everyone who opens the door to their heart, and welcomes them into His heart, he also accepts the role of a parent or Father. He scourges or punishes every child who deserves it, just as any good parent would do. Discipline is Love. Lack of discipline is a lack of love and an admission of not caring. If you have been accepted as a child of the Lord, and you know that He loves you, then do not make light of His discipline and love when you are corrected or punished. We should invite and encourage THE LORD'S DISCIPLINE!
