An unpleasant tingling sensation swept over my body as the needle sank into my vein. It wasn’t a surprise, however, since the nurse had warned me, “Alright, you’re going to feel a slight prick, Mr. Bramlett.” Needles have never frightened me, but I have always appreciated a heads-up before the metal micro-rod pierces my skin. I was in the hospital, desperately requiring medicinal fluids, and the stinging of a needle was the only way to get them into my system. Pain was the price of gain, and there’s no doubt that I would have been worse off without the medicine I needed—even if it required a painful prickle.
And this is what happens to all of God’s children when they are lovingly disciplined by Him. His discipline is a painful prick of the conscience and a temporary sting to the soul that gives us the correction we need when we have sinned. The Lord administers the sanctifying medicine of His compassionate discipline when our sin-sick heart goes astray, and sometimes it hurts. As the writer of Hebrews said, “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Heb. 12:11). Believers do not face punishment from the Lord since there is “no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1), but wayward saints must endure His benevolent chastising, just a loving father disciplines his children for their good.
His discipline sometimes takes the form of heartache, inward regret, or bitter sorrow (Psalm 32:4). He may also use the loving rebuke of other believers to administer His chastisement (Matt. 18:15-20; Heb. 3:13). More often than not, the Father reprimands us as believers by letting the consequences of our sin run their course. Sometimes, His discipline may be very severe if we continue in sin without repentance (1 Cor. 11:29-30). And just as God chastised the Israelites through famine and drought, the Lord may see fit to upset and interrupt our lives in noticeable ways in order to arrest our attention and correct our course.
The good news is that God always administers such painful discipline because of His fatherly love for us, His children. “My son,” said Solomon of old, “do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights” (Prov. 3:11-12). Moreover, as the writer of Hebrews confirmed, “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons” (Heb. 12:7-8). Even Jesus promised, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent” (Rev. 3:19).
Bible Gleanings is a widely-read weekend devotional column, written for the Murray Ledger & Times in Calloway County, Kentucky.
Brandon is the founder and main contributor to Brandon’s Desk, the blog with biblical resources from his ministry. He pastored the family of believers at Locust Grove Baptist Church in Murray, Kentucky for six years. He and his wife Dakota live there with their three dogs, Susie (Jack Russell), Aries (English Shepherd), and Dot (Bluetick Beagle).
For more devotional entries like this, check out Brandon’s latest book, Bible Gleanings Volume II, which features 100 daily devotionals gleaned from God’s word:
Brandon's Desk 