Discipline

Proverbs 12:1 states that “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but

he who hates reproof is stupid”. That is fairly blunt. But what does it mean to love

discipline? Discipline can be formative- think proactive teaching, instructing,

exhorting or training- as well as corrective- think reactive consequences or

accountability to correct an issue. We often think of the process of discipline as

good and necessary, but rarely enjoyable. In fact, it is often quite painful,

uncomfortable, and imposes on our desire for complacent comfort. Yet, we

recognize that growth happens through adversity. We employ coaches, trainers,

and mentors to teach, push, and challenge us. To recognize our faults and correct

our errors so that we improve in whatever training area we are pursuing. As

parents we seek to lovingly discipline our kids to produce character, teach them

awareness of their sin, and point them to Christ. Learning to love discipline then

is a mark of maturity that recognizes this current unpleasantness is growing or

producing something of greater value. It will be worth it!

As Christians we do not have to go out seeking suffering or persecution, but when

the trials and difficulties of this life come, we recognize that it has a formative

effect as our faithfulness through trial produces steadfastness as James 1 says.

Or in Romans 5 as Paul traces the process when he says to “rejoice in our

sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces

character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame,

because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who

has been given to us.”

We also understand that we experience the good and right corrective discipline

from our heavenly Father in response to our sin. Not the punishment, separation,

and eternal condemnation that our sin rightly deserves… Praise God that there is

no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! But now, the loving discipline

of a Father who is seeking the ultimate good of His children as he shapes them

into the image of the Son. Proverbs 3 states “My son, do no despise the Lord’s

discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord disciplines him whom he loves

as a father the son in whom he delights”. This passage is then quoted and

expounded on in Hebrews 12 as the writer explains “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?...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”.

So Christian, learn to love discipline both because it

produces the fruit of righteousness in your life, and serves as a reminder that you

are a blood bought child of God with an eternal hope and future.