No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful."
Hebrews 7:11
It seems to me that the older we get, the more discipline is required.
One example: When we were younger, it felt like we could eat what we wanted, when we wanted it, and we suffered no ill effects. At all. But times, they are a-changin'.
These days, it takes a lot more discipline to maintain a routine, to keep priorities in line, and to stay on track. And it's not necessarily pleasant.
That's a no-brainer. I know it. You know it. And the Bible knows it as referenced in today's Scripture: "No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful (Hebrews 7:11).
The context of this acknowledgment in Scripture deals not with our willingness (or lack of) to discipline ourselves, but rather God's ongoing discipline of us. But just as it's not necessarily fun to impose discipline on yourself, it's not particularly pleasant to experience the discipline of the Lord either.
Enjoyable? No.
Good? Yes. Very good, in fact.
Let's look at a more detailed explanation in Hebrews:
"As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Whoever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 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. 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? For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God's discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness." (Hebrews 12:7-10)
These verses give us three reasons that, while not enjoyable at the time, God's discipline is very good news.
1. God's discipline means He is an involved parent.
What kind of parent exercises discipline on their children? The involved parents - the ones who know and care what their children are up to and who they are becoming. God's discipline is evidence that He is very involved in our lives. He knows when we get up and when we lie down; when we come and when we go. He even knows the inner parts of our hearts that we might be blind to. So even though His discipline might not be pleasant, it is a sure and certain reminder that God is not some absentee Father who just shows up around Christmas to throw a gift or two your way. No. God is an active and engaged Father who cares enough about our lives to play an active role in shaping them.
2. God's discipline means you are a legitimate child.
Not only does God's discipline speak to His divine parenting, but it also speaks to our identity as His children. I think about this fact in light of my own children. When they have friends over to our house, I might give some general direction, but it's not my role to discipline them. At least, it's not my role to discipline them as I would my own kids. Why? Because they're someone else's children.
If God is willing to discipline us, it means that we belong to Him. We are in His family, and our place there is as legitimate as it can be.
3. God's discipline means He is shaping your character.
Finally, God's discipline is good news because He cares about who we are becoming. He cares enough to take an active role in shaping our character into the image of Jesus. His discipline is not about punishment; it's much more forward-thinking than that. God disciplines us so that we might continue to grow in holiness in the future – to be the people He created us to be and enjoy Him in the way we were meant to.
Yes, Christian, you will be disciplined by God. And yes, it probably won't be pleasant when it happens. But remember that His discipline is not evidence of God's anger but His love. Not of His abandonment, but His presence.
