Knowing God - Psalm 94:12-13

(from Pastor)

Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD,

the man you teach from your law;

you grant him relief from days of trouble,

till a pit is dug for the wicked.

Psalm 94:12-13

 

Question: Is discipline a good word or a bad word?

 

Answer: It depends on which vantage point you are looking from!

 

As children, we didn't like rules, laws, restrictions, and discipline. I pray you're wise enough now to see some of the wisdom behind the person who loved you enough to channel your willfulness and sin!

 

Parents ought to guide their children the way God does. "Law" ... plus love. "Discipline" ... plus grace. Firmness, direction, and purpose ... plus self-sacrifice. 

 

In the long-run, discipline offers us "relief from days [and days and days] of trouble."

 

The alternative -- perhaps a form of lazy, permissive, or impotent parenting -- often produces a "pit ... dug for the" ones we thought we were helping. 

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who's thankful

for disciplining parents

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Discipline is hard ... as a parent dishing it out. as a child of God receiving it. as a human trying to practice 'self-discipline.'  But when we are disciplined, we are blessed.  We may not always see the reason behind the disciplining. One of my son's favorite words when we discipline him is 'why?'  Don't we often ask God that?  Why? As a mom, I try not to say because I told you to, but sometimes that is the only reasonable answer. The only one he will understand.  

Part of discipline is obedience.  The faster and more often we obey, the less need of discipline there will be.  And the more we will be blessed.