Disciples are Disciplined

Hebrews 12-13; Jude 

“…’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…No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

Hebrews 12:5, 6, 11

The mark of a disciple of Christ is that they submit to Christ’s authority and follow him. Christ disciplines those he loves. He uses circumstances, family, the Church, and society, to be the instruments of his discipline. More deeply, the Lord disciplines us through his Spirit within us as we experience conviction of sin and call to repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation, restitution, and restoration. The fruit of living in obedience to the inner and outer discipline of the Lord is a harvest of righteousness and peace. When we pray for a hundred-fold harvest and multiplication, we are also praying to die-to-self like a kernel of wheat, so that we, too, can be transformed.

Are we inviting the discipline of the Lord?

“Lord Jesus, your discipline is worth the price for the fruit and multiplication of your life in me and in others, for your glory.”