Discipline shields from permanent loss
Dr. D Olawale
In today’s culture, the word ‘discipline’ has a negative connotation. It, however, should not be. We must train ourselves and our children to see the value and purpose of discipline. The Oxford Languages Dictionary defines discipline in this context as:
“The practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience.”
In this definition, two terms are important to highlight. The first is training. Training refers to strict, intentional, and programmed repeated practice to develop desired skills, behavior, and competence. Our natural tendency is to be sloppy and lazy, to do the easy thing, and even to do wrong for our own benefit and comfort.
Excellence and good require hard work, intentionality, and strict regimen. That is why you don’t see an outstanding athlete or team without a coach. You cannot become a member of the elite group in the military, like the Navy Seals, without undergoing more stringent training than other military members. You see outstanding researchers who other outstanding researchers have trained through the quality of their work. Also, outstanding pastors and ministers subject themselves to rigorous training, including daily hours of prayer, fasting, and study of the Word. We do ourselves and our children a great disservice when we do not train them or allow them to be taught, hindering them and us from being the best we are created to be.
The second term is punishment. We need to note that punishment only comes in to correct disobedience or non-conformance. Some of us willingly subject ourselves to the training and don’t experience punishment. But most of us, at one time or another, willingly disobey and refuse to abide by the training, and then we experience the painful consequence (punishment) of our disobedience. The pain we expose ourselves to is designed to bring us back into conformance with the dictates of the training.
Let’s liken training to a father instructing his young child not to put his finger into a candle flame. When the father was not watching, he put his finger into the flame but quickly withdrew his finger, crying in pain. The pain experienced is a punishment that caused him to withdraw his finger. The father did not cause the pain, but the child experienced the pain when he did not follow the guidelines or instructions set by the father to protect himself. Imagine there was no pain. He would hold his finger over the flame and burn it, permanently destroying his finger and resulting in a permanent deformation. That is the purpose of punishment - temporal pain to save us from permanent loss and suffering. Many children who are not disciplined by their parents end up with permanent loss and suffering, such as their death or the death of other people.
Similarly, when God disciplines (trains and corrects as needed), it is because He loves and delights in you. You should respond with gladness and praise Him for it. Proverbs 3:11-12 says,
“11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” - Proverbs 3:11-12
So don’t allow the devil to discourage you. God’s discipline is a sign of His love and approval of you. He is not disappointed in you, and He is not giving up on you. Respond with joy and gratitude to His discipline.
“4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.” - Hebrew 12: 4-13
Call Out
In today’s culture, the word ‘discipline’ has a negative connotation, but it should not. We must train ourselves and our children to see the value and purpose of discipline. Similarly, when God disciplines (trains and corrects as needed), it is because He loves and delights in you. You should respond with gladness and praise Him for it.
