The Right Value

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Hebrews 12:11 KJV

Let it be quickly established here that today's extract is addressed to people referred to as 'sons' and 'children'. If you feel you have outgrown the need for control or discipline, then maybe today's extract is not for you. 

The next lesson for these sons is that part of the package of the family you have been born into is discipline. I am yet to see anyone who turned out to be quite useful, who didn't submit to discipline. It is not a matter of IF but WHEN. If I will amount to anything God can use, the way there would have to involve a lot of discipline. 

And discipline is an offshoot of love. I am also yet to meet anybody who looked back at the past and didn't appreciate the experiences that helped shape him/her. All that we had to deny ourselves of; all that we had to endure all had one main goal in view: to make us what God could use to further His kingdom on earth. In fact, the context of today's extract makes it clear that if there is no discipline of a child, it means that the child, most likely, is an illegitimate one. That seems to be quite a hard one, but it is quite apt in explaining why we all need to be subjected to discipline, if we will amount to anything God can use. 

Earthly discipline by earthly parents was good; we learnt life through it. If this applies to the physical, imagine the value in the spiritual. Earthly discipline helped us understand the place and the limits of earthly things; so also does spiritual discipline help us know what God wants and what he hates. Both hold value for both the present earthly phase as well as eternal life that we are hoping for. 

If I will make heaven, I cannot avoid discipline, as defined by God. If I ignore or resist it, I am telling God I do not recognise his Fatherhood over me, or I do not belong to Him. That is quite dangerous. The times we live in calls for help from One who knows what I need, when I need it and in what quantity or context. He knows what I need for the place He is taking me, and as I trust Him, I will arrive safely. If I resist Him, I cannot turn around and blame Him for the consequences of my actions. His time of favour is here.