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 (Heb. 12:11).

When you take a turn off a highway and you see a sign that says, “No Through Traffic,” you don’t think to yourself, what cruel, hard-hearted person put that road sign there? You feel thankful that somebody cared enough to instruct you that this road is a dead end!

The same is true with God. He doesn’t just tell us what is right, and then send us on our way with no more care for our wellbeing! God provides signs through his correction and discipline that get our attention. That’s often how we know we’ve gotten off the path and are in spiritual danger.

God corrects us because he loves us and because his directions (and re-direction) provide the way for our safety and care! God’s discipline is never from “the ogre in the sky” who desires our harm, but from a Heavenly Father who is leading us from danger to “the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”

When you recognize God’s discipline, trust it to be an expression of fatherly care that would be absent without his grace. No discipline seems pleasant for the moment, but there would be no power in God’s continuing spiritual care without it. His discipline never harms – even if it hurts, but always turns us from spiritual danger into his loving arms!

Prayer:
Lord, help me to walk in the righteous path you have laid and to believe your warning signs and correction are for my spiritual safekeeping. Help me to believe your discipline is always from a heart of Fatherly love.