Embrace the Belt

TOPIC: Discipline

SCRIPTURE: "But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and NOT sons." (Hebrews 12:8)

OBSERVATION: I love the way The Message says it.
"Have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children?
My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline, BUT don't be crushed by it either. It's the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects.
God is EDUCATING you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's TRAINING, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves...We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God's training so we can truly live?
...God is doing what is best for us, TRAINING us to live God's holy best.
...Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God."

APPLICATION: As I read through this chapter the thing that jumped out at me was that we needed to embrace God's discipline.

Remember
Correction,
IF received
w/ the right heart,
produces
right living.

Our Heavenly Father's
goal
is to bring
His children
That's U
That's Me
(IF of course you actually are one)
to maturity.

I am sooooooooooooooooooo glad
that I know that I know
that
He is my Father
&
I am his child
Thank you for that assurance!!!

If you are unsure in any way
PLEASE DON'T HESITATE
TO GET IN TOUCH
with me
or
with someone you know
that has a relationship with Jesus.

PRAYER: Father God, help me to always embrace your discipline knowing that it is because you love me that you discipline me.