DISCIPLINE FOR THE SOUL

Deut. 8:5 So you should realize that just as a parent disciplines a child, the LORD your God disciplines you to help you.

Discipline is a necessary part of the learning curve. It promotes retention of those things we need to know. It is a deterrent to wrong beliefs and behavior. It teaches us submission to the authorities that rule over us. It keeps us humble so we don’t become a god unto ourselves. Discipline helps to develop character.

Without discipline there is no restraint on evil. We are prone by nature to indulge our sinful nature and without discipline we will not resist the desires to do evil. We will develop cold and hardened hearts. We will live for self and self alone.

To be disciplined is to be loved. Even as a parent who loves his child will discipline him to help him in life, so God disciplines us. God punishes sin to keep us from sinning. He holds us accountable for sin so that we don’t harm ourselves by sinning. All sin is punishable by separation from God and God loves us too much to let us wander away from Him. He cannot, and will not, allow sin in His presence. He lovingly deals with us, sometimes harshly, in order to get us back on track. He does whatever He can to lead us back to the protective blood of Jesus. As long as we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ we are okay and God disciplines us so we will not wander away from Him.