“Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. (Job 5:17) Bible Reading: Job 5:17-27
Punishment and discipline –synonyms which may be used interchangeably to convey the same meaning. Or are they? Well, place a stubborn 3 year old in front of a weary, worn out parent, and in that moment, the parent had better understand the difference between punishment and discipline, because the outcomes are very different.
Punishment inflicts penalty for an offence, focusing on the past; whereas discipline shapes and trains for correction and maturity, its focus being future correct acts. The outcome is different in each too – punishment results in fear and guilt, whereas security is the outcome of discipline.
Aren’t you glad that God is not in the business of punishment? He doesn’t hold our past against us, when we repent. Our past was dealt with on Calvary’s Cross; in fact Isaiah reminds us that the punishment that brought us peace was upon Jesus. Don’t dwell on yesterday’s mistakes, God certainly does not, but look to the future with hope and anticipation knowing that our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
Prayer: Father, take my life, with its flaws, Shape, break, remake Grant me patience in the season of suffering Show me the way you’d have me take
