Why would a loving heavenly Father allow pain and hardship in the lives of His children? Shouldn’t a good God rescue us from suffering? Not necessarily. Every parent knows that withholding the pain of discipline from children is not the best thing for them. And that’s also true of our relationship with our heavenly Father.
God disciplines us “so that we may share His holiness” (Heb. 12:10). Although believers are holy positionally through Christ and have been set free from the dominion of sin through the power of the Holy Spirit, we still struggle with sin and the temptations of the devil. Therefore, the Father trains us to recognize sin in our life, resist temptations, and pursue holiness. Without His loving intervention, our spiritual growth would be stunted.
Sometimes God’s discipline can be painful, just as a spanking is to a child. But what matters most is how we respond. When our Father’s correcting hand falls on a certain area of our life, we need to address the situation and make needed changes in order to mature in our faith. To respond defiantly will only make things worse.
The writer of Hebrews warns us not to take God’s discipline lightly by refusing to repent of sin or ignoring what He is trying to teach us. But we are also told not to be disheartened by it. The fact that we are being disciplined should encourage us because it proves that we are God’s beloved children. Without His correction, we would tolerate sin in our life and never experience the freedom of walking in obedience.
Bible in One Year: 1 Chronicles 13-15
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