"There's no sonship without the spankship," said a speaker at a conference I attended once. Everyone bursted in laughter at the use of words, but underneath the humor lies a truth that applies to every believer of Christ.
"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant," says the author of the book of Hebrews. We all know this to be true. It hurts, yes, it gets discouraging even; but, though it's highly unenjoyable, discipline is actually a tool that is meant to shape us into better people. A huge clump of wood is no good for firewood. It catches a little bit of fire, but unless it's chopped up, it won't really serve its purpose. If that clump of wood were a man, do you think that it would be pleasant? Not at all.
And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by Him. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives." Hebrews 12:5-6ESV
To be under the disciplinary action of God is something to be thankful for, and the ways that God uses are different for each person, but the end goal is the same: to become more Christlike.
Hannah Whitall Smith said this, "If I am walking along the street with a very disfiguring hole in the back of my dress, of which I am in ignorance, it is certainly a very great comfort to me to have a kind friend who will tell me of it. And similarly it is indeed a comfort to know that there is always abiding with me a divine, all-seeing Comforter, who will reprove me for my faults, and will not let me go in a fatal unconsciousness of them."
Many times, we are not aware of the disfiguring holes in the back of our dresses, or pants for the men. We have flaws that don't seem like flaw to us but are actually dangerous to have. As Smith said, a fatal unconsciousness. It could be pride, greed, lust, narciccism, whatever it may be. We're not all perfect, so out of His love, God brings us through a process so that we won't fall short of the grace that He has for us.
Responsible parents sacrifice the comfort of their children for the sake of discipline so that good manners will be established. If children are left to have their own way, they grow up spoiled and become very difficult people to be with. If human parents care for their children, how much more God the Father Himself?
"God is interested in developing your character." Henry Blackaby says, "At times He lets you proceed, but He will never let you go too far without discipline to bring you back. In your relationship with God, He may let you make a wrong decision. Then the Spirit of God causes you to recognize that it is not God's will. He guides you back to the right path."
God's not unfair in His dealings with you. You may think it sucks to be under the rod, but be grateful. Harry Emerson Fosdick puts it beautifully when he says, "No horse gets anywhere until he is harnessed. No stream or gas drives anything until it is confined. No Niagara is ever turned into light and power until it is tunneled. No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, disciplined."
