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Love's Discipline
Love’s Discipline
David W Palmer
(Revelation 3:19 NLT) “I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference (lukewarm-ness).”
This is one of those very hard-to-take concepts. We “feel” that if God loves us, he should be like the ultimate Santa Clause and simply give us things to make us feel special, warm, and fuzzy. But God is much wiser than that. He knows our potential and wants us to grow into mature sons and daughters; he wants us to grow out of our character flaws and weaknesses into our destiny. That’s why he disciplines and corrects us:
(Hebrews 12:5–6 NLT) “And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, ‘My child, don’t make light of the LORD’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. {6} For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”
It is vitally important for us to see his correction as the “God-who-is-love” wanting what’s best for us. Then, when the pruning, discipline, and correction come, we won’t give up. After all, it’s all proof that he is treating us like his own children:
(Hebrews 12:7-9 NLT) “As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? {8} If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. {9} Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?”
If we endure his loving correction without giving up, look at the benefits:
I know it’s not always easy to distinguish an enemy attack from Father’s correction. The devil would love to deceive us into thinking that his lying, stealing, death-motivated, evil onslaught is really God at work. However, God always corrects us in line with his word—leading to repentance and improvement. The enemy on the other hand, condemns us, leading to regret, depression, despair, and despondency. Satan never improves us; he makes us want to give up, hide in a hole, or run to others for some sympathy and pity. The enemy’s attacks draw us into comfort food, self-destructive behavior, or anything that can numb our pain. But God leads us through godly sorrow to repentance, which leads to a fresh burst of love and life—passionate first love, and a hot spiritual life:
(2 Corinthians 7:10 APE) “For grief that is for God’s sake produces a remorse of the soul … and restores to life, but the grief of the world produces death.”
Get ready for some correction from Jesus. In context of our opening scripture, the primary flaw he is targeting is the one in the following passage—lukewarm-ness:
(Revelation 3:15-18 NLT) “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! {16} But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! {17} You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. {18} So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.”
If we do what Jesus wants here—allow all your gold to be purified in the fire of his correction and discipline—what will the outcome be?
(Revelation 3:20–21 NLT) “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. {21} Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.”
All he asks us to remember today is that “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening; it is painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” (Heb. 12:11 NLT)
Have an amazing day—enjoying the hope that Father’s correction will bring great improvement to your future, despite the temporary discomfort of the discipline.
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By DAVID W. PALMERLove’s Discipline
David W Palmer
(Revelation 3:19 NLT) “I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference (lukewarm-ness).”
This is one of those very hard-to-take concepts. We “feel” that if God loves us, he should be like the ultimate Santa Clause and simply give us things to make us feel special, warm, and fuzzy. But God is much wiser than that. He knows our potential and wants us to grow into mature sons and daughters; he wants us to grow out of our character flaws and weaknesses into our destiny. That’s why he disciplines and corrects us:
(Hebrews 12:5–6 NLT) “And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, ‘My child, don’t make light of the LORD’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. {6} For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”
It is vitally important for us to see his correction as the “God-who-is-love” wanting what’s best for us. Then, when the pruning, discipline, and correction come, we won’t give up. After all, it’s all proof that he is treating us like his own children:
(Hebrews 12:7-9 NLT) “As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? {8} If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. {9} Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?”
If we endure his loving correction without giving up, look at the benefits:
I know it’s not always easy to distinguish an enemy attack from Father’s correction. The devil would love to deceive us into thinking that his lying, stealing, death-motivated, evil onslaught is really God at work. However, God always corrects us in line with his word—leading to repentance and improvement. The enemy on the other hand, condemns us, leading to regret, depression, despair, and despondency. Satan never improves us; he makes us want to give up, hide in a hole, or run to others for some sympathy and pity. The enemy’s attacks draw us into comfort food, self-destructive behavior, or anything that can numb our pain. But God leads us through godly sorrow to repentance, which leads to a fresh burst of love and life—passionate first love, and a hot spiritual life:
(2 Corinthians 7:10 APE) “For grief that is for God’s sake produces a remorse of the soul … and restores to life, but the grief of the world produces death.”
Get ready for some correction from Jesus. In context of our opening scripture, the primary flaw he is targeting is the one in the following passage—lukewarm-ness:
(Revelation 3:15-18 NLT) “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! {16} But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! {17} You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. {18} So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.”
If we do what Jesus wants here—allow all your gold to be purified in the fire of his correction and discipline—what will the outcome be?
(Revelation 3:20–21 NLT) “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. {21} Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.”
All he asks us to remember today is that “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening; it is painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” (Heb. 12:11 NLT)
Have an amazing day—enjoying the hope that Father’s correction will bring great improvement to your future, despite the temporary discomfort of the discipline.