Why Would God Discipline Me?
Many Christians don't want to think about the subject of God's discipline. But Scripture outlines some essential principles for why God disciplines His children. Understanding these principles can be transformative in our thinking about the nature of our relationship with God.
The Christian Has a Fundamentally Different Relationship with God than the Unbeliever.
Scripture portrays the people of God as having a special “status” or relationship with God that is very different from those who are not followers of God. The unbeliever is described as living under God’s holy wrath. Therefore, the status of their relationship with God is fundamentally the posture of guilt under the judgment of God’s righteous anger (Psalms 7:11; Romans 1:18; 2:5; 2 Peter 2:9).
In contrast, the person who has put their faith in Christ has a fundamentally different status and relationship with God. Because of Christ, the believer's relationship is characterized by grace, mercy, and loving compassion. One common illustration used in Scripture to help us comprehend the nature of our relationship with God is the Father/child relationship (Romans 8:15; 1 John 3:1).
Living as God’s children includes many privileges the unsaved do not have. Freedom from sin and living under God’s grace brings peace and joy. However, living under God’s grace doesn’t mean we are FREE to live any way we want (Romans 6:1). As imperfect people trusting in God's grace, we have been called to walk by faith with God. This journey of faith is a process of growing in spiritual maturity as we are increasingly conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29; 12:1). Because the nature of our relationship with God requires a path of spiritual growth, discipline starts at the moment of conversion and continues throughout our life in the Spirit.
Principle 1: God Disciplines Because He Loves Us.
Proverbs 3:11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord. Or loathe His reproof, for whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
Fundamentally, discipline is an expression of love. The righteous earthly father disciplines their child because they lovingly desire that they would grow in their maturity. The very presences of proper discipline is a display of compassionate love. Therefore, the child of God should not be discouraged when God’s discipline comes. Instead, a healthy perspective on God's discipline is to view it as a compassionate act of God's love toward you.
Principle 2: God Disciplines Because He is Good.
The writer of Hebrews make the comparison between a human father’s discipline of a son and God’s discipline of us.
Hebrews 12:10 For earthly father’s disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
Of course, we understand that human fathers are imperfect, and consequently, they discipline imperfectly. Even when their intentions are right, human parents sometimes discipline when they shouldn’t, fail to discipline when they should, or discipline in the wrong way.
In contrast, everything God does is good and perfect (James 1:17). Therefore, God’s discipline is good because He is good. This means that any discipline we experience from loving God is because He is doing what is good for us. In fact, an evil person will not correct their child's errors or confront their mistakes. If God were to ignore our errors without providing correction, He would fail to be good to us.
Principle 3: God Disciplines bring Spiritual Formation.
Titus 2:11–14 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
One of the critical purposes of God’s discipline is to rid us of everything that doesn’t reflect His glory. He disciplines us so that we might learn how to live godly lessons that develop our spiritual character (James 1:2-4). In simple terms, discipline is training.
When an individual or church needs transformation from their current state, God will often allow a period of discipline with the intent that they will repent and correct their behavior. God's ultimate purpose for training us through discipline is heart renovation. God disciplines us because He wants us to be holy and righteous like His son, Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:15-16).
Principle 4: God Disciplines through Scripture & Spiritual Authority.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness;
One of the fundamental purposes of Scripture is to serve as a tool of spiritual discipline. Looking into the mirror of God’s word is intended to reflect our spiritual condition accurately (James 1:23–24), and when that condition does not line up with Scripture, it’s designed to cut away what is wrong (Hebrews 4:12).
Many modern Christians think that the primary purpose of Scripture is to be a motivational book that provides spiritual one-liners designed to encourage their spiritual life. While the Bible certainly encourages us, it’s designed to do much more than uplift us. Scripture is designed to discipline us towards righteous living.
Much of the New Testament letters are the Apostles (Paul, Peter, James) exhibiting their spiritual authority by writing to churches and disciplining them on matters where they had strayed. God has placed spiritual authority in our lives to provide disciple when needed. The Christian who doesn’t have any spiritual authority that can administer spiritual discipline to them has dramatically hindered their ability to be spiritually healthy and grow in mature Christian living.
Principle 5: Embracing a Lifestyle of Spiritual Disciplines prepares us to receive God’s Discipline.
Hebrews 12:11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Spiritual disciplines are this voluntary subjection into the path of training towards godliness. Embracing a lifestyle that voluntarily chooses the path toward spiritual training enables Christians to accept God's discipline more easily. Having willingly subjected themselves to suffering and denying self, those who practice spiritual disciplines fully understand that they will not outgrow the need for God's discipline (Philippians 3:12–14).
The Christian who regularly practices spiritual disciplines has intentionally chosen the path of spiritual maturity. Therefore, when God's discipline occurs, it is not a "shock" to their spiritual life, but God is simply guiding them on the path they have already determined to pursue.
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About the Author
Dr. Laurito (DMin. Southwestern Assembly of God University) serves both the church and the academy as a pastor and an adjunct professor. Whether through books, sermons, podcasts, blogs, or biblical resources, Dr. Laurito is committed to equipping this generation to fulfill their Spirit-inspired destiny.