"Those whom the Lord loves He disciplines. "
Hebrews 12:6
HOW DOES GOD LOVE US?
Read It: Hebrews 12:3-8 By now I hope we've made the point that it takes more than saying the right thing to get the job done. If we are going to get the results God wants, we must lovingly discipline our children. In fact, according to Hebrews 12 discipline is one test of God's love. One way you know God loves you is that He doesn't just let you go on in your sin without doing anything about it. Now I can't stop all the neighbors' kids from messing up because they are not part of my family. But my kids-that's a whole different story because I love them. If you want to love your children the way God loves His children, chastening has to be part of that love. See, love means you'd better say something. And if that doesn't take care of the problem, you'd better do something. If you love me, and you see that I'm destroying myself, yet you keep quiet, you're killing me. The most loving thing a parent or any spiritual leader can do is chastise in love. Why? Because that's what God does (v. 6). The writer of Hebrews asks us fathers a question: "What kind of father is it who doesn't correct his son?" Answer: "Not much of a father at all. That's not being a dad. Without discipline, you are treating your children just like everyone else does." Then the writer drives his point home in verse 8. Have you ever had kids in the neighborhood who come to your house and act like they live there? Your kids bring some kids home to play, and it's fine at first. You know, they come in, and all they want is a little glass of water.
But after a while it gets out of hand, and you have to make it known that this is not a hotel, and you're not a bellhop. The reason you do that is because the neighbors' kids don't have legitimate rights to that freedom. Your children have the right to partake of your home because they are part of your family. But then they also get to partake of your discipline. Think About It The thing that makes you unique to your children is that you are the unique one bringing correction in their lives. That's also what makes God unique to us.
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