~ The Basics of Divine Discipline ~
Its Subjects (His
followers) ~ “I will be his
Father, and he shall be My son. If he
commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of
the sons of men” (2 Samuel 7:14). “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to
sons: ‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you
are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord
loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.’ If you
endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom
a father does not chasten? (Hebrews 12:5-7).
Its Nature (parental
rather than judicial) ~ “Therefore gird up
the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that
is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient
children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;
but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because
it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’
And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according
to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in
fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver
or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but
with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot” (1 Peter 1:13-19). “But when we
are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the
world” (1 Corinthians 11:32).
Its Instruction (the
Word of God) ~ Jesus said, “Abide
in Me, and I in you. As the branch
cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you,
unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much
fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is
withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are
burned. If you abide in Me, and My words
abide in you, you will ask what you
desire, and it shall be done for you. By
this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My
disciples. As the Father loved Me, I
also have loved you; abide in My love. If
you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My
Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (John 15:4-10).
Its Objects (our
profit, fruit, and holiness) ~ “If you endure chastening, God deals with
you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if
you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are
illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore,
we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in
subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but
He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the
present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of
righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews
12:7-11).
Its Purpose ~ “For the grace of God that
brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness
and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the
present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great
God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us
from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous
for good works” (Titus 2:11-14).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
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