By Pastor Dave
Discipline stirs up thoughts of punishment, correction, pain, work and so forth. However, when you think of discipline from God, it should stir up different thoughts.
I wrestled in school from fourth grade through twelfth as well as in college. I even coached wrestling for a few years as an assistant coach. During wrestling practice, there would be physical conditioning and training. Coaches would teach the entire team a move and a counter move. We would practice it 10, 20, 30 times or more to get it right and to make it a part of our skills as a wrestler.
As part of our training, the coach would call out one or two wrestlers and review their last match performance. They would review what was good and what was not good. Then they would take time to work with the wrestlers to correct what needed correcting. Sometimes, when I got called out, it was a little embarrassing and I did not like it at the moment. However, when I wrestled in my next match and won, I appreciated the discipline the coach gave me.
A good coach will discipline his athletes to make them better. That is what God does with us. He disciplines us for our good and for our success. Hebrews 12:5-11 explains God disciplines us for our good. He disciplines us because we belong to Him and He loves us. Job 5:17-18 tells us that we should embrace God’s discipline. Revelation 3:19 confirms God disciplines those He loves. Proverbs 12:1 reminds us we should welcome discipline. Psalm 94:12 states we are blessed when we are disciplined.
When God brings discipline into your life, be aware that He is doing it because He loves you. He calls you His own and He wants you to grow, to improve, to overcome and to win your next match.