Will a God of love discipline His children when they disobey?
Yes—of course, and thank goodness He does. By in large, people are prideful, lustful, corruptible, and the list goes on. When ungodly characteristics shape behavior, our heavenly Father will do what needs to be done to make His point.
Would you rather face God’s firm discipline, Who loves you, or be destroyed by the devil, who hates you?
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth
(Hebrews 12:6, KJV).
Tough love: experience is a powerful teacher.
I know the thought that a loving God will allow or cause hardship to discipline His children is controversial. But look at it as tough love. Allowing believers to experience the consequences of their sinful choices is a good deterrent when temptation comes knocking again.
I’m not saying all hardship results from disobedience; some adversities come basically to strengthen and test our faith. Those examinations are crucial for assessing faith development. But, on the other hand, when blatant, willful sin is the cause for our rebellion, our Father has no problem chastening us.
For instance, when the Israelites turned away from God and started worshiping other gods and idols, He allowed their enemy, the Babylonians, to enslave them for seventy years. After they repented, they were released, and God punished the Babylonians for their mistreatment. This is just one example of how our Lord uses our adversaries’ evilness to discipline. (See the book of Ezekiel.)
The best weapon against the devil is to be a broken, submissive vessel for God.
Contrary to the devil’s plans to keep us bound and convicted with guilt, God is forgiving, and His mercy offers ample chances for repentance. Therefore, there’s no condemnation for those in Christ (see Romans 8:1) because our Redeemer sacrificed His life and paid our sin bill on the Cross.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5, KJV).
When corrections come, submit and say:
Lord, even though my flesh will have a SCREAMING FIT—discipline me!
Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him (Job13:15).
© 2022
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