Did you ever realize that one of the greatest gifts you can ever give your children is good godly discipline or chastisement. They will often hate this discipline when it is given, but as they grow older they will understand that godly discipline is one of the best ways a father or mother can demonstrate their love for their children.
Notice what the Scriptures share here: “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 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! 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. 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.” (Hebrews 12:7-11).
From the above passage in Hebrews, I notice several things.
First, God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in His holiness. I don’t know about you but there is nothing more wonderful than sharing in the holiness of God.
Second, often God must administer a “spiritual spanking” to His children for corrective purposes and in order to get our attention. And when God wields His spiritual rod we should be grateful, for his corrective action is always profitable for us.
Third, proper discipline is a strong proof of love. When you love someone you must be willing to always do the right thing, even when you know it won’t be popular in the short run. I love how the writer of Hebrews tells us in (Hebrews 12:11): “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.” When we understand that God uses chastisement to train us so we can experience righteousness and peace, all of a sudden we should rejoice in His spiritual and practical discipline.
And fourth, rather than look at God’s chastisement with our own shortsightedness, and the immediate pain we may have to endure, we need to view it with an eye toward the blessings to come.
Below are a series of quotes on chastisement, that I pray may help you bear God’s discipline with a joyful heart.1
“Chastisement is designed for our good, to promote our highest interests. Look beyond the rod to the All-wise hand that wields it!” – A. W. Pink
“God never punishes his children in the sense of avenging justice. He chastens as a father does his child, but he never punishes his redeemed as a judge does a criminal. It is unjust to exact punishment from redeemed souls since Christ has been punished in their place. How shall the Lord punish twice for one offense?” – Charles Spurgeon
“Look upon your chastening as God’s chariots sent to carry your soul into the high places of spiritual achievement.” – Hannah Whitall Smith
“God has no pleasure in afflicting us, but He will not keep back even the most painful chastisement if He can but thereby guide His beloved child to come home and abide in the beloved Son.” – Andrew Murray
“Form the habit of heeding His taps, and you will be less likely to receive His raps.” – A. W. Pink
“Many pastors criticize me for taking the Gospel so seriously. But do they really think that on Judgment Day, Christ will chastise me, saying, ‘Leonard, you took Me too seriously?’” – Leonard Ravenhill
“He remembers our frame and knows that we are dust. He may sometimes chasten us, it is true, but even this He does with a smile, the proud, tender smile of a Father who is bursting with pleasure over an imperfect but promising son who is coming every day to look more and more like the One whose child he is.” – A. W. Tozer
“Faith upholds a Christian under all trials, by assuring him that every painful dispensation is under the direction of his Lord; that chastisements are a token of His love; that the season, measure, and continuance of his sufferings, are appointed by Infinite Wisdom, and designed to work for his everlasting good; and that grace and strength shall be afforded him, according to his need.” – John Newton
“If the believer sins after he is saved, God will chastise him. But the chastisement is not payment for sin. Jesus Christ paid for our sins two thousand years ago when He died on the cross.” – Curtis Hutson
“God would not rub so hard if it were not to fetch out the dirt that is ingrained in our natures. God loves purity so well He had rather see a hole than a spot in His child’s garments.” – William Gurnall
“Remind yourself of how much dross there is yet among the gold and view the corruption of your own heart and marvel that God has not smitten you more severely.” – A. W. Pink
“In the midst of the awesomeness, a touch comes, and you know it is the right hand of Jesus Christ. You know it is not the hand of restraint, correction, nor chastisement, but the right hand of the Everlasting Father. Whenever His hand is laid upon you, it gives inexpressible peace and comfort, and the sense that ‘underneath are the everlasting arms,’ (Deuteronomy 33:27) full of support, provision, comfort and strength.” – Oswald Chambers
“To bear adversity with meek submission to the will of God; to endure chastisement with all long-suffering and joyfulness; to appear cheerful amid surrounding gloom, hopeful amidst desponding circumstances, happy in God when there is nothing else to make us happy; he who does this has indeed made great advances in the divine life.” – John Angell James
1 All of the following quotes are from the websites below:
19 Quotes About Chastisement | ChristianQuotes.info
Chastisement | Christian Quotes of the Day
TOP 25 CHASTISEMENT QUOTES (of 116) | A-Z Quotes (azquotes.com)