Punishment and Discipline

There have been times where I have heard someone, in some form of frustration, cry out “why is God punishing me?” Although these times come forth from a myriad of issues and trials, I think the true reason behind what is going on is still the same: God is not punishing us, but educating and training us.

There is a good chance that God may be using and allowing our circumstances as a way to discipline and correct us. God loves us and will not allow things in our life that prevent us from excelling and completing His will for our lives.

Hebrews 12:6-11, says, “For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.”

It is very important to understand the difference between “punishment” and “discipline” as a person of faith. If we don’t, I fear that when “things happen” in our life, we are more vulnerable to the Devil’s mastery of making us think God is unmerciful, cruel and actually “punishing” us.

Let us see the difference:

- Punishment is punitive and is intended to make the offender repay any debt they have incurred.

- Discipline is corrective measures to change negative behavior.

- Punishment makes you pay for what is done in the past, but discipline helps us to keep from making the same mistakes again in the future.

- Punishment is about condemnation where discipline is about correction.

- Punishment is about making the situation right where discipline is about helping the person get right.

Discipline is much like a medication that helps us to get well. Discipline is healing because it is steeped in patience with the willingness to work over time to restore a person and to repair what was broken. Discipline is a sign of love because it is a fulfillment of 1 Corinthians 13:8, that “love never fails.”

Discipline is always for our good. Yes, it may still “feel” like it is punishment at the time, but when we are willing to receive God’s true intentions for our situation, our lives will change for the better and we will always be better for it. As Job 5:17 tells us, “Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.”

Learn from Lydia

There are a lot of interesting mentions of women in the Bible. Whether it is the Old Testament or New Testament, there are many strong, yet oddly missed, lessons from women that we can familiarize ourselves with to strengthen our faith. One such woman is named Lydia. She provides a very powerful lesson for us. We find one particular mention of her in the book of Acts. Acts 16:14 , says that Lydia “reverenced God, and the Lord opened her heart to accept what Paul was saying.” Lydia is actually a significant person in the New Testament. She is described as “a dealer in purple goods” (Acts 16:14). Pointing that out is quite a clue. Dealing in “purple goods” was considered a luxury in the ancient world. It is probably safe to say that she was both a woman of great financial means and able to deal successfully with the influential people of her time. She was also noted as having a great gift of persuasion. I think she might have been the only perso...

Tetelestai!

Just before Jesus gives up His spirit on the cross, He utters a very powerful word. The word that He cries out is “ tetelestai” (tih-tellis-tie). When literally translated, this word means, “It is finished.” It can also refer to something completed or accomplished. The word occurs in John 19:28 and 19:30 and these are the only two places in all of the New Testament where it is found. In the John19:28 passage, it is translated, “After this, when Jesus knew that all things were now completed , in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, he said, ‘I thirst.’” Two verses later, he utters the word himself: “Then when he received the sour wine Jesus said, ‘ It is finished ,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” Did you know that the word tetelestai was also written on business documents or receipts in New Testament times to show indicating that a bill had been paid in full? The Greek-English lexicon (by Moulton and Milligan) sa...

Accepting Martyrdom

We are still in the season of Easter as we await its culmination in what is known as Pentecost . There is another event in the Church which we commemorate at the forty-day mark of the Easter season where many denominations recall the “ Ascension ” of Jesus Christ. Mark 16:19-20 , “After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” This event marked by the Church is also stated in the Apostles’ Creed: “…He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.” When Jesus ascended to Heaven after rising from the dead, He promised us that we would never be left all alone here on earth to “fend for ourselves.” We have the Holy Spirit of God always with us. John 14:16 , “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever….” We w...

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