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God's discipline is a facet of His love

God’s discipline is not equal to punishment. Punishment has to do with God’s wrath but in Christ we don’t suffer God’s wrath. God’s discipline is course correction and training and the goal of it is healing.

God’s discipline is an aspect of God’s love because He is love. In Hebrews 12 we read about God’s discipline and the great news is that the One who loves us unconditionally (that means without any conditions whatsoever) is the one disciplining in this passage. He loves us more than I can explain. He only wants our good and His heart is so for us it defies description.

5 And have you forgotten His encouraging words spoken to you as His children?
He said,
“My child, don’t underestimate the value of
The discipline and training of the Lord God.
Or get depressed when He has to correct you.
6 For the Lord’s training of your life
Is the evidence of His faithful love.
And when He draws you to Himself
It proves you as His delightful child.”
7 Fully embrace God’s correction as part of your training, for He is doing what any loving father does for his children. For who has ever heard of a child who never had to be corrected? 8 We all should welcome God’s discipline as the validation of authentic sonship. For if we have never once endured His correction it only proves we are strangers and not sons
9 And isn’t it true that we respect our earthly fathers even though they corrected and disciplined us? Then we should demonstrate an even greater respect for God, our spiritual Father, as we submit to His life-giving discipline. 10 Our parents corrected us for the short time of our childhood as it seemed good to them. But God corrects us throughout our lives for our own good, giving us an invitation to share His holiness.
11 Now all discipline seems to be more pain that pleasure at the time, yet later it will produce a transformation of character, bringing a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who yield to it.
12 So be made strong even in your weakness by lifting up your tired hands in prayer and worship. And strengthen your weak knees, 13 for as you keep walking forward on God’s paths all your stumbling ways will be divinely healed!

The Passion Translation

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