Many of us have had fathers who unfortunately didn’t know or exhibit the love of God, our Heavenly Father. So, unfortunately, we may not have a proper image of how God designed for a father to provide a healthy form of discipline. God’s kind of discipline, however, is meant to keep us in His grip. In a nutshell, it acts to guide us, keep us safe, and in a healthy direction.
RELEVANCE
My father took good care of us. I never did understand, though, why he used to mock many things I did and thought. His form of discipline was rigid in my eyes. It didn’t come with much tenderness or help me cast a vision for my future. What I had a hard time understanding, was that the immigrant culture in which he was raised plus the things he had to endure left a lot of scars, pain and bitterness in his heart. He had wisdom in many areas, but he couldn’t see or feel much beyond his own pain. His pain was contagious. It grew in me as I grew up.
Unlike our natural fathers, God sees and knows all, and can do all things! He is not restrained by fears or emotions. He disciplines us with grace and His tenderness. He knows the free will He gave us, by its human nature, bears the tendency to yield to the pulls and temptations of the world. Yielding to such pulls will callous our heart towards God, as we demonstrate that such things become more valuable to us than our relationship with God. God disciplines us, therefore, to protect us and teach us His ways and values so we can be free to live healthy and prosperous lives.
That’s why His very first commandment states, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Deuteronomy 5:7). What are “gods?” They are vain images we conceive in our minds that become illusions. We exalt them and place too much value upon them.
Why does God care? He created us in His image and planted the seed of His nature in us. He desires that our heart incline first to Him, and value the things He values. Such things have the capacity to bring us His kind of love, peace, and joy.
REFLECT AND RELATE
Think of how much you (would want to) care for and protect your favorite possessions. God loves you even more!
How do you keep your favorite things safe, clean, preserved for the future?
REFERENCES
Hebrews 12:7-11