Coaches understand discipline. Most likely, you’ve emphasized “staying disciplined” countless times, urging your athletes to play within their limits and abide by the rules. Perhaps a lack of discipline has cost you a loss (or two). When an athlete makes a mistake, “discipline” is the necessary repercussion so it doesn’t happen again.
Discipline is often an important focal point of any family. How did your parents discipline you as a child? If you currently have children, how are you and your spouse disciplining them? What has been the response?
Though often associated with punishment, discipline need not be negative. When properly applied, it demonstrates a key spiritual truth that supports the Greater Promise of eternal life.
For many, God is viewed as an upset disciplinarian waiting to punish bad behavior. That’s poor theology and a misconstrued view of God. When you embraced eternal life, you entered a right-standing relationship with your Heavenly Father. You didn’t do anything to earn a place in His family. His fatherly love won your heart and brought you in as an adopted son or daughter (Galatians 4:5). He knows you fully and loves you unconditionally. He sees all your flaws but doesn’t turn away. You are forever positioned in grace before Him. In His love, He reveals the areas of your life that need to be changed, healed, and transformed (2 Corinthians 3:18).
As Hebrews 12 teaches, God disciplines through correction, similar to a father disciplining a child. He’s not upset with you. He sees the potential for your growth. Do you have this same mentality regarding discipline in your family? While methods matter, motives are ultimate. When things go awry, where does your heart bend? Your kids are fighting again, or your spouse made a mistake. Is your response to power up or to name, blame and shame?
As the Father disciplines you in tender love and compassion—seeing your worst but working to your best—how could the same approach alter the motives of your heart when discipline is needed in your family?