LOVE SHOWN THROUGH DISCIPLINE

SCRIPTURE:
“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.  So be earnest, and repent.”  
(Revelation 3:19)

MEDITATION:
Have you ever considered the reason we discipline our children?
It is partly to help them learn, but it is also because they need our help.
Help? Yes, we help them when we discipline them.
In their hearts, they may want to behave, 
but they need help with developing self-control.
That’s why parents have such a huge responsibility to discipline.

Does this make it easier to understand why the Lord disciplines us?
When we are saved, 
in our hearts we want to live righteously, but we need help.

Discipline is defined as, “the practice of training people to obey rules 
or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience”.
Rebuke is defined as, “expressing sharp disapproval 
or criticism of (someone) because of their behavior or actions”.
The Lord wants us to understand His disapproval of our actions, 
and He wants to train us to obey His rules of behavior.

Some think of God as a divine fly-swatter, 
waiting for us to land so that He can zap us for our sins. 
But that’s not what we see in His letters to the 7 churches (Revelation 2-3). 
The pattern of God’s letters demonstrates a loving heart for wayward people.
He began many of these letters 
by affirming the good things His people had done. 
This shows us that when we do what is good and right, the Lord is pleased.

But He is also concerned about the faults in our lives. 
His commendation in these letters was often followed by words of reproof. 
Although it’s not comfortable to hear Him say, 
“Nevertheless I have this against you” (2:4; see vv.14, 20), 
He reveals what needs to be changed in our lives.

His actions move us to the real heart of the matter - repentance. 
When the Lord told these churches to repent, 
He was revealing His love for wayward saints. 
His goal was not to condemn, 
but to restore them to an intimate fellowship with Him.
And don’t miss the fact that each letter ends 
with a specific promise for the “overcomers”.
Clearly God desires to reward those who live lives that are pleasing to Him.

ACTION:
How do you feel when you are rebuked and disciplined by the Lord?
Do you resent it, or do you understand the depth of His love for you?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, help me to keep my heart open to what You’re
saying to me today. Teach me to understand that Your rebuke and 
discipline is an expression of love. Help me to feed off of Your 
love as encouragement to make the adjustments I need to make in 
my life. Thank You for loving me with a greater love than I could 
ever imagine!”.