March 4th – Job 5:17
Job 5:17
Theologian John Owen is quoted as saying, “Love precedes discipline.” No one likes correction. But rather than being a punishment, God’s discipline is an act of love and grace from a loving Father to His wayward child. The Lord only wants the very best for us. And so He disciplines, leading us to repentance and complete dependency on Him. This in turn results in great blessings. Blessings including strengthening our faith, and spiritual growth. For as Hebrews 12:11 reminds us, “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” Although sometimes painful, we can find joy in God’s discipline. Because not only does that mean we are His, we can become better versions of ourselves and deepen our relationship with God.