“I am the one who corrects and disciplines everyone I love. Be diligent and turn from your indifference” (Revelation 3:19 NLT).
Students, athletes, and musicians typically face many challenges in striving to be the best they can be. That’s because the path to excellence in those areas often requires a commitment to a series of far less glamorous activities like practice, hard work, study, correction, and self-discipline. Undisciplined individuals rarely excel in these fields and are likely to underperform on tests, in games, and during concerts as a result.
However, there is another important aspect to this idea. For instance, consider a scenario where a coach or teacher refused to offer any form of training, instruction, or correction to a student or athlete. Imagine the detrimental effect of that approach upon those who looked to such leaders for guidance. Under normal conditions, a negligent instructor who failed his or her students in that manner would likely face immediate dismissal.
On the other hand, an excellent teacher or coach will motivate, instruct, and correct students and athletes in order to enable them to perform at their highest level. Our text from Revelation 3:19 tells us that Jesus does much the same in our spiritual lives. Although it is rarely easy to face correction and discipline, those qualities enable us to secure the growth and development that God seeks for us.
The Biblical book of Hebrews references the Old Testament book of Proverbs in addressing this subject…
“And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? ‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.’
It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons” (Hebrews 12:5-8 ESV).
Hebrews 12:11 then continues by saying…
“No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (CSB).
These passages remind us that the presence of divine discipline indicates the presence of divine love. We can be confident that God has a purpose for those periods of spiritual discipline we experience, and will bring something positive and meaningful from them in our lives.
Image Attribution: Motivation by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0Alpha Stock Images