Godly Discipline Part 1

Discipline is not a word many of us are particularly fond of—unless, of course, we are the ones administering it. Even then, discipline can be difficult, especially when we love the person we are having to discipline. Unfortunately, however, exercising discipline is often frowned upon in our current

culture, and even more unfortunately, this is to the detriment of everyone.

Lack of discipline however is completely counter cultural of how God views discipline. From a very young age and throughout adulthood, God demonstrates the importance of discipline. As believers, if for no other reason, we should desire both to administer discipline appropriately and to accept discipline ourselves because it is what God expects of us.

But what exactly is discipline?

The word itself often carries a negative connotation. We frequently equate discipline with punishment. Discipline, however, is not punishment, although punishment may sometimes be necessary for discipline to be understood.

Punishment is another word that many people are uncomfortable with. In reality, punishment is simply a consequence. And once again, God is a strong proponent of consequences. Consequences are often what drive us toward being disciplined.

“You do the crime, you do the time.”

A consequence is the result of an action, sometimes involving a penalty, intended to help us recognize the error of our ways and reject that behavior in the future. The desired end result is discipline—a life increasingly characterized by self-control, responsibility, and wisdom.

Would you not agree that it is far better to sit in a corner for a few minutes or have your iPad time taken away as a child than to sit in a prison cell as an adult, where your freedom—and your iPad usage—are controlled for you?

One way or another, consequences will be experienced by those who lack or reject discipline. This is precisely why God models both consequences and discipline for us throughout His Word.

Hebrews 12:11 “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.”

We see here that discipline can be painful, and that pain may sometimes come through consequences. As we well know, those consequences are not always administered by another person. Sometimes they are simply the natural consequences of our choices, and those consequences can be far more severe than anything handed down by an authority.

Once again, this is a powerful testament to why it is so vital to teach discipline and why God calls each of us to live a disciplined life.

Proverbs 12:1 “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.”

Proverbs 3:11–12 “My child, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves the one he loves, as a father the child in whom he delights.”

Discipline may not always be pleasant, and consequences may not always be easy. But according to God’s Word, they are not intended to destroy us. They are intended to teach us, correct us, mature us, and ultimately produce in us the kind of character that reflects Him.

In our next blog, we will discover what Godly discipline looks like.