"God's Discipline"

We have become so insensitive to sin because we lived as its slave (before entering Christ) and it is all around in the lives of others. God takes sin more infinitely serious than we do but that's because of His holiness with no hint of darkness around Him. God wants to share His life with us and in order for Him to do that, sin must be dealt with. Those who put a trusting faith in Him will see the utter disgust for sin, move away from it, desiring to share this life with a holy and righteous Father.

When we become too comfortable about sin, there must be things our heavenly Father must do to help us see that our ease of sin, our attitude that can easily embrace sinful ways has to be dealt with. That's what Heb. 12 is all about. The Hebrew speaking for God admonishing the readers they haven't resisted sin to the point of shedding blood and forgotten what the Father exhorts us as sons (Heb. 12:4-5). We are children of God and that means we share in His life. He disciplines those of us who take sin lightly and it is for our own good! Sin has never affected the church for good and never will!

God wants us to live! Some just don't believe that. God wants us to share in His life! Some think that quoting some verses and attacking every misstatement is how they share in His life. That can really be arrogance and sin! We need a better vision of what God is trying to do for us and in us. God must bring pain to us when we wander off into sin and are unrepentant. That's because He cares for us as His children. I did it to my children, didn't you? Discipline is in store for those who wander into the world God redeemed us from. Sometimes discipline can be a gentle reminder and other times, there must be a consequence to help us see that our attitude or actions were improper. Why does God do all this? Because He loves us? Yes...but that's not the whole of the matter. Listen carefully: "...but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness." (Heb. 12:10) God wants us to live and share His holiness. One thing will hinder that...sinful practices and attitudes. Think about it...to share in the holiness of God! What a desire on the part of God. What a lack of desire sometimes on my part but thank God for discipline.