“All legitimate sons undergo discipline; so, if you don’t, then you’re illegitimate and not a son!”

Hebrews 12:8 (Paraphrased)

 

We live in a generation of believers that resists discipline. We often see discipline as a form of punishment because we do not understand our relationship with God. God does discipline us. God, however, does not use discipline to punish us, but rather to train and mature us as His sons and daughters.

Discipline is not punishment.

Punishment deals with your past, whereas discipline deals with your future.

Punishment is like a quack cure that leaves you even more broken than before. Discipline is like a surgery that hurts you, but afterwards you can see the positive result: a maturing growth in grace and character. (cf. Hebrews 12:11).

The Greek word for "discipline" is paideia which means "instructions designed to train or educate a child". This means that God does not use suffering or sickness to discipline us. The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews tells us that discipline is an unavoidable part of our relationship with God. If God does not discipline you when you need it, you do not belong to Him.

Discipline validates your sonship, because God is doing what any loving father would do for his children. Remember that God is the author, progenitor, the source of your existence, and initiator of your purpose. If you cannot trust God’s vision for your life, it is easy to sin against Him and reject His grace (cf. Galatians 2:21). By doing so, you are effectively rejecting your sonship. The opposite of sonship is an orphan spirit.

God has an eternal perspective on your life, and His desire is to carry out His good purpose in you (see Philippians 2:13). In other words, God will not work according to your vision of life, but rather with His. If you cannot relate to that, your relationship with God may become stressful and tense. You will believe that God hates or rejects you when God never stops pursuing you.