“This hurts me more than it hurts you.”

I’ve heard parents say this when they have to discipline their children. The child never seems to believe it; I certainly didn’t when I was in their shoes. The discipline always seemed a lot worse for me when I was going through it! If my parents really loved me, why not just let me eat ice cream for breakfast every morning? But as I grew up, I came to understand and even appreciate this sentiment. No one likes discipline – the giver or receiver. No one likes to cause a loved one hardship. However, discipline is an important part of love because it leads to maturity.

The Bible teaches us that, if our faith is in Jesus, we are sons of God. Being a son is significant. In the ancient world, sons got all the privileges. They were the heirs of the family estate. When God calls us sons, he’s telling us that every Christian – man or woman – receives first class status. Everyone who trusts in Jesus is an heir of the eternal estate.

But with sonship comes more than just inheritance. It comes hand in hand with discipline too. Hebrews 12:5-9 reminds us:

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

"My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,

nor be weary when reproved by him.

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

and chastises ever son whom he receives."

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

God doesn’t punish Christians, but he does discipline them. There’s an important difference. Punishment is about justice. It’s about righting wrongs. Discipline is intended to teach, to produce maturity in the one disciplined. God doesn’t send trials on Christians to harm us. He sends them for our good, so that through discipline we may grow into greater and greater maturity. God loves us enough to accept us where we are. He also loves us enough to mature us beyond even our greatest hopes. This discipline is a sign of God’s love.

How have you seen God’s discipline in your life? Where have you seen him smooth out some of your rough edges?