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.”

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...

The 50-Days of Easter

Jesus rose from the dead. Period! He is alive. We are “easter people” and live daily as proof that He is risen from the dead. He did walk out of the grave. He conquered death. Jesus not only came back to life, but He stayed on earth to be seen by many witness. 1 Corinthians 15:5-8 , “ He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.” After the resurrection, Jesus spent forty days on earth before He ascended back to His rightful place (1 Peter 3:22), and then there were ten more days after that before the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-47). Jesus accomplished many things in this time between His resurrection and return to Heaven. One of the most important was actually a command to us. We refer to this impor...

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I think we could spend hours, if not days, in just the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel. If there is one thing that is made clear in this writing is that God is passionately pursuing us and bidding us to have a relationship with Him that is restored by His Son, Jesus. There is one verse, in particular, that stands out to me. John 6:37 , “However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.” Those that come to Jesus will never be rejected. If you come to Jesus, just as you are now, he will not turn you away. He gladly welcomes you to come to him. It is not God’s design or plan that we live separated from Him. He makes the way for that relationship to happen. He initiated the plan. He paid the price. He gives freely. He gives us free-will to choose or reject that offer of reconciliation through Jesus, His Son. God makes His intent clear: Ezekiel 33:11 , “As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the ...

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