If you are a parent, you’ve either thought or said these words: “This is going to hurt me more than it is going to hurt you”. Though they sound silly, they really are true. Sometimes we have to make decisions for our kids that we know ahead of time will be painful for them…but it really is painful for us to have to do it. But we do it because we love them enough to want to teach them an important life lesson.
God has the same mindset.
“From among all the families on the earth, I have been intimate with you alone. That is why I must punish you for all your sins.” Amos 3:2 (NLT)
God simply says this: “Because of My uniquely intimate, loving relationship with you, I must punish you when you sin”. Hebrews says the same basic thing, but we are probably much more familiar with it:
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. 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. 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? Hebrews 12:5-9 (NLT)
Like our children, we don’t always like it when God disciplines us. But my prayer is that we can appreciate it and learn from it even though it is painful in the moment. My prayer is that we can be glad that He loves us that much!!!
