Discipline

June 9, 2018 by Jenna No Comments

When focusing on learning more about faith, Hebrews 11, aka the faith chapter, is the place to go. However, sometimes I like to see what comes next in the Bible to see how it relates. Obviously, Hebrews 12 is next, so that’s where I went. And that is where we get everyone’s favorite topic: Discipline. Hebrews 12:11 – No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening- it’s painful! But afterward, there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

There are 3 main elements of discipline that I feel affect our faith journey:

  • Punishment Discipline
    • This is not a lecture on parental discipline!
    • My personal hardest issue with punishment discipline is pride: I really hate to be wrong, and I hate for it to be pointed out when I am.
    • If it’s so unpleasant, why does God discipline us?
      • Hebrews 12: 10- For our earthly fathers discipline us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us so that we might share in his holiness.
    • Discipline trials from God are times when God brings us to repentance, to get our souls out of harm’s way. It is not just an angry response to our sin, it always has a purpose.
    • THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT ALL UNPLEASANT TRIALS IN LIFE ARE PUNISHMENT!
      • John 9:2-3: “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.”
      • What this does mean is that God takes things that result from this fallen world and shows us how it does not defeat him.
      • Romans 8:28: And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.
    • Punishment discipline will look different from person to person.
    • Why does God even bother with disciplining us? Because he loves us!
      • Hebrews 12:5-9 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said ‘My child, don’t make light of the LORD’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. 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. whoever heard of a child who is not disciplined by his 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. since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?
    • An example of God’s punishment discipline can be found in Jonah 1-2
      • God sent a huge storm to Jonah’s boat as he was running in the exact opposite direction, completely disobeying God’s command.
      • Instead of letting Jonah die in the sea, he sent a big fish to swallow and keep him for 3 days, which rescued him and took him back in the right direction. In the meantime, God used it to help change Jonah’s mind and attitude. (Read Jonah 2 for Jonah’s prayer of repentance.)
    • God uses discipline, but he still is clear to show that He loves us in it.
      • Psalm 89:31-34: If they do not obey my decrees and fail to keep my commands, then I will punish their sin with the rod, and their disobedience with beating. But will never stop loving him nor fail to keep my promise to him. no, I will not break my covenant, I will not take back a single word that I said.
  • Coaching Discipline
    • Coaches watch, guide, and correct to make stronger and prevent injury
    • Coaching discipline is not punishment
    • While we may feel that God is being too harsh in His rules, it is better than the alternative of zero expectations and therefore giving us no motivation. He always has a reason for his rules and “exercise plan,” and it’s always to benefit us.
  • Self Discipline
    • This is really hard! It’s easy to think that it’s only for extreme athletes and dieters, but we all need to have it.
    • 2 Peter 1 gives us a list of godly character traits that expound: building onto each other to bring us to the next gift (more like badge or medal) as we work toward being godly people.
      • The foundational element of this whole cascade is: faith!
      • Self-discipline, or self-control, is described in 2 Peter 1:-5-6: In view of all of this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and with self-control.
        • So self-discipline is a recipe of faith + integrity + knowledge
        • How do you work on knowledge? Read the Bible, find a good Bible study, get accountability partners.
    • We also need to have a realistic goal with a plan to get there. Here are 2 real-life examples:
      • A good example is a Couch to 5K program: weekly exercises that gradually get you strong enough to run a 5k after training well.
      • If you are like me and struggle with the temptation to eat all things sweet, having an alternative snack that you can eat instead.
  • These all bring us to the next topic: Endurance.
  • 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. they do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.
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