February 3

Feb 3 - Today from Proverbs 3 we look at verses 11 & 12
"My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent His rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, as a father the son he delights in."

I was a spiritual street-urchin of an orphan in this world with a wicked and evil foster parent called Satan. In His great love for the lost, God called me to be His own child. But the cost of adoption was far beyond my means. He took care of that by paying the price Himself, on a cruel cross. Could He love me that much? He called me again. Okay, I will live in the shed out back and do my best. He would not hear of it. He wanted me as His own son, with the full rights of sonship. How could this be? Who was I to take up residence in His house? Could it be? Then He gave me a gift called faith. My eyes were opened to a love I could not comprehend - and I surrendered. "Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us that we should be called the sons of God" (1 John 3:1). And so I am, by His great mercy in Christ Jesus.
You are a child of God. He is your Shepherd, Guide, Lord, King, Friend, Master, Teacher, Savior, Protector, Provider, Advocate, High Priest, and more - but the most comprehensive and best definition of our relationship to God is Father/child. The very first line of the model prayer which Jesus gave us is, "Our Father which art in heaven." It sets the tone for how we posture ourselves in prayer - and in our relationship with Him. He not only is our Father; He is a perfect Father. Perfect in wisdom. Perfect in justice. Perfect in mercy. Perfect light - In Him there is no shadow of turning (James 1:17). Our perfect Father's purpose for His children is to grow in His character. As children we tend to think we know more than we do at times. It's called pride. Pride is the base of sin, and sin mars and disfigures God's children. Sin is also that which nailed the Father's Eternal Son to a tree. His love for us held Him there. He accepted the penalty for our sin so that we might be healed and freed from the spiritual marring and disfiguring work of sin in our lives. It is also His love for us that motivates God to take us to the woodshed once in awhile. He may not always wield the strap, but He controls the one who does.
At times we may tend to try to manipulate our Father - just like those of us who have our own children have experienced their attempts to manipulate us. They think they are so clever with their twisting the truth, or withholding facts, or exaggerating circumstances in order to make things go their way. That's how our heavenly Father's children act toward Him at times. God does not give up on us, rather He disciplines because He loves us. He knows that if we continue in our sin we will end up either very damaged, or very hardened - either will break a parent's heart.
The word 'discipline' in both the Hebrew and the Greek refer to the training of a child, and can take one of two forms. The first is instruction. A parent's first action is usually a rebuke - corrective instruction. But discipline can also mean physical punishment. When a rebuke isn't enough, a parent must resort to stronger measures. Children might (and usually do), despise discipline when it's being administered, but as they grow in wisdom and experience they eventually learn to appreciate it. In Hebrews 12, where this Proverb is quoted, it says in verse 11, "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful." Discipline is for training, and if the child does not rebel and continue to despise discipline, he will eventually mature. Verse 11 goes on to explain, "Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." That's the Father's goal for each of us.
How does God's discipline come? It comes first by instruction through His Word - if His children are open and teachable; "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16). It comes by way of the church leaders whom God placed in authority; "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you." (Hebrews 13:17). And, God's discipline comes through hardship; "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons." (Hebrews 12:7).
Is all hardship related to personal disobedience? No. But, all hardship can be used as discipline. It builds character - the character of our Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ. Even Jesus "learned obedience from what he suffered" (Hebrews 5:9). He wasn't suffering hardship for His personal disobedience - but He grew in character through it. Let's not be so quick to jump out of the fires of hardship. It is by processing through them that we learn about faith, grace, and the Father's love. We will always be God's children, but He doesn't intend for us to remain childish. He wants us to grow up into Christ.