“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”
Hebrews 12:5-6
Mario was the first inmate I heard say, “Coming to prison was the best thing that ever happened to me.” But since then I have heard dozens of my incarcerated brothers express the same thing.
Mario went on to explain: “I had walked away from Jesus. I was deep into sin and foolishness. But God is a good Father, and He is using prison to turn me back to Him.”
God is a good Father. The Bible tells us He disciplines His children, but it is a discipline that is always for good, never for harm. “God’s discipline is not punishment. When his purposes are complete, he does not rub our noses in our mistakes … God’s mercy encourages us not to grovel in our sins, but to move on in the encouragement of his forgiveness” (George Robertson, 2006).
When God ordains discipline, the best and safest course of action for us is to submit, even if it is a hard discipline like a prison sentence. Embrace the discipline, whatever your circumstances may be. Cooperate with God’s purposes, and the result will “produce a harvest of righteousness and peace” (v. 11).
Mario went on to explain: “I had walked away from Jesus. I was deep into sin and foolishness. But God is a good Father, and He is using prison to turn me back to Him.”
God is a good Father. The Bible tells us He disciplines His children, but it is a discipline that is always for good, never for harm. “God’s discipline is not punishment. When his purposes are complete, he does not rub our noses in our mistakes … God’s mercy encourages us not to grovel in our sins, but to move on in the encouragement of his forgiveness” (George Robertson, 2006).
When God ordains discipline, the best and safest course of action for us is to submit, even if it is a hard discipline like a prison sentence. Embrace the discipline, whatever your circumstances may be. Cooperate with God’s purposes, and the result will “produce a harvest of righteousness and peace” (v. 11).
Scripture Focus
Hebrews 12:4-12
Insight
Lord, please give the grace to embrace and cooperate with Your discipline. Please produce a harvest of righteousness and peace in my life. Amen
Bible In A Year
- Exodus 29-30
- Psalm 40
- Luke 4
