July 14
The Lord Disciplines
the One He Loves
Hebrews 12:5-6
And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes 1 you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
Daily Steps
When suffering involves correction or rebuke, the new believer can easily feel abandoned or rejected. This passage provides the essential truth that secures peace in correction: The Lord disciplines the one he loves.
The peace in this correction is found in divine relationship:
The Context of Love: Discipline (chastens or correction) is explicitly defined as an act of love, mirroring the relationship of a good father and his son. This truth changes the perspective on pain: it is not random punishment or evidence of hatred, but purposeful training because you are accepted as His child.
The Commands for Attitude: We are given two commands regarding correction:
Do not make light of it: Do not ignore, minimize, or treat the discipline as trivial.
Do not lose heart: Do not give up, fall into despair, or allow the pain to destroy your hope (Day 194).
The Result is Security: This understanding removes the anxiety of spiritual abandonment. Because you are suffering His discipline, you have confirmation of His love and your sonship. This powerful security allows you to embrace the painful correction, knowing it comes from a perfect Father who desires your good.
Your peace in suffering is secured by God's love. Embrace His discipline without despair, for it is the clearest proof that The Lord disciplines the one he loves and is guiding you toward holiness.
Reflective Question
If you are currently experiencing a painful consequence or rebuke, are you tempted to lose heart or make light of it? How can you purposefully thank God today for this discipline, acknowledging it as a concrete sign that you are loved and accepted as His son/daughter?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I confess my difficulty in embracing correction. I pray for the spiritual vision to see this painful moment as proof of Your unwavering love. Help me to neither make light of nor lose heart in Your discipline.
Secure my peace today in the certainty of my sonship, trusting that You chasten me because You accept me and desire my holiness. Amen.
