Thoughts About Discipline

by Bob Busenitz, Elder

11My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord Or loathe His rebuke, 
12For whom the Lord loves He disciplines, Just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights. 
13Blessed is a person who finds wisdom, And one who obtains understanding. Proverbs 3:11-13 (NASB 2020)A
 
Discipline. We need it for dieting. Athletes need it to maintain good physical condition. These might be examples of self-discipline.
 
Sometimes we may need outside help with discipline, like a sports trainer, or a teacher. Some forms of physical therapy I suppose are a form of discipline. We accept this discipline as good for us.
 
And the Lord may also discipline us, as noted in the verse above from Proverbs 3. This discipline might not be pleasant, so we may be tempted to “reject” or “loathe” it. But the Lord does it because He loves us; it’s compared to the discipline of a father for “the son in whom he delights.”
 
And we can gain wisdom and understanding from the Lord’s discipline—this thought follows closely after the statement about the Lord’s discipline. Sometimes we may even need wisdom and understanding to recognize the Lord’s discipline in our lives.
 
Just as we recognize the benefits of discipline in other areas of life, may God also help us see His hand in our life, helping us grow, helping us trust Him, finding wisdom and obtaining understanding. For His glory and for our good.