“ . . . have you forgotten the exhortation which addresses you as sons?

‘My son, do not make light of the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him.  For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.’

It is for discipline that you have to endure.  God is dealing with you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?  If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.  Besides this, we have had earthly fathers to discipline us and we respected them.  Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?  For they disciplined us for a short time at their pleasure, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.  For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant; later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.  Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.”

Letter to the Hebrews, chapter 12, verses 5 through 13.

One of the most precious and crucial ministries of the Holy Spirit in our lives as believers is His discipline.  Watchman Nee writes, "It is a Christian's main means of receiving grace throughout this life."  However, it seems that many modern believers and Christian teachers are unwilling to take seriously the discipline of the Lord or consider its practical implications in their lives. Recently a well-meaning teacher became intent on conveying the message that “God is not mad at you.”  Indeed, God is not “mad” at us, but thankfully, when He saves us, He has no intention of leaving us as we are.

Gratefully, His purpose is to grow us, change us and form Jesus Christ’s character in us.  Thank God, to repeat an old phrase, He is more concerned with our holiness than He is with our happiness.  Thank the Lord, our one true loving Father, He is faithfully and carefully committed to our discipline.  Gratefully, He is faithful to deal with that which must be dealt with.  Because of His holiness He is bound to expose and challenge that which needs to be challenged; to correct that which is not pleasing to Him that we may share in His holiness and His Kingdom purposes.

He knows exactly what we need.  With the deepest compassion, perfect insight and complete understanding of our need, He is absolutely, tenderly careful and precise in the application of His discipline.  It would be fair to assert that we, both individually and corporately, are in need of His nurturing, compassionate discipline, correction & judgment in our lives.  As Peterson wrote, "There is so much wrong in the church which the love of God wants to expose that it might be dealt with and corrected.  There are so many lies being taught as truth, and as a result many lives are being totally ruined."

For his children, His discipline and correction is a welcome demonstration of His meticulous care and unending love, an assurance of His firm commitment to our redemption, the deepening of our relationship with Him and the practical increase of His Kingdom in our lives.  Again, it is with unfathomable compassion and tenderness that He deepens our relationship with Him, often through trial.  He intends to deepen our trust as He increasingly reveals His character and goodness.  He would have us walk in true maturity and wisdom that can only come from joyful submission to His discipline.

Repeatedly in the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses expresses the Lord's heart to establish a relationship with His people in which they "cleave" to Him.  What a precious picture!  "Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you." Deuteronomy 8:5  Again in the Book of Proverbs (3:11-12) the Lord expresses His heart of care for and delight in His people.  "My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights."  May He give us grace to fathom the depths of His compassion and delight that is embodied in His care and discipline as He teaches us to cleave to Him in reality and truth.

This web site exists primarily for the purpose of honoring Him by appropriately considering, celebrating and appreciating this and other aspects of God’s character.  By better appreciating this seemingly contemporarily neglected subject, we only hope to, like the author of the letter to the Hebrews, encourage fellow believers.  By making the literature and audio messages featured in this site more widely known and available, we also hope to offer encouragement and understanding.

Additionally, in the months ahead we will periodically, offer fresh messages of encouragement and challenge to hungry believers from His Heart on other vital topics (found under the menu titled "Heavenly Perspective").

Are you hungry?  Has He put it in your heart to desire this character and depth of relationship with Jesus Christ?  In this context, we welcome you to join with us in digging deeper into the wonders of God's character and purposes.  Join with us in welcoming Him, from the bottom of our hearts; “Come, Lord Jesus!  Accomplish Your good work in every corner of our lives.  Deepen our walk with you.  Your Kingdom come, Your will be done.  Reveal what needs to be revealed in our lives.  Touch what needs to be touched.  Satisfy your Heart and your full intentions in your people, Lord God.”  Let us welcome His work and His perspective in our lives.

Site manager (C. Egge), April 2011