Building up believers and the New Testament church

Discipleship

Discipline

The very word "disciple" brings the idea of discipline to our mind. Discipline lies at the heart of strength. A disciplined person is able to endure where an undisciplined person falls. Discipline cuts away things that rob strength, and straightens the walk toward the goal. Discipline exercises to increase endurance. God is working to discipline every area of our lives so that we may be able to finish the race that is before us.

Discipline is a broad term, and sometimes when we think of discipline we think of punishment. But strong corrective measures are only a very small part of discipline. Discipline is stringent exercise with a specific goal in mind. One who submits to discipline to run a race runs every day to the limit of his endurance, then runs more to "stretch" himself. A person may discipline his or her time, cutting out nonessentials, to be able to finish school, or begin a business, or work to pay off a debt. The military disciplines a soldier to be able to endure hardship, leaving the soft life behind and strengthening physical and mental skills to be able to withstand the ordeal of combat. The disciplined army is the army that wins.

Discipline is not easy. Running the extra mile when it seems like one cannot run another step is painful. Working one more problem in school when friends are calling to go for a walk takes strength of character and a clear goal in mind. Changing a lifestyle or job to be more available to God and His purposes does not come without effort. Seeing that our desires are completely under the control of the Holy Spirit is not a simple matter. The question is, are we willing to submit to the discipline of God?

A father who loves his children is constantly leading them on to a greater level of discipline. He curtails play, assigns work, increases responsibility, and holds them accountable to it. He has a goal in mind: mature, disciplined sons and daughters, able to bear responsibility in a job or family of their own. He knows that life holds many trials and dangers, and he seeks to prepare them. He does not make things easy, but constantly works to increase his children's abilities in every area.

If earthly fathers, limited in love, wisdom, and ability, seek to do this, how much more does our heavenly Father discipline His own sons and daughters out of love (Hebrews 12). Our heavenly Father has eternal goals in mind, and He knows the future for each one of us. He is preparing us to stand victorious in the power of His life. He does not bring any unnecessary discipline into our lives, but only that which is needful. He is for us, not against us. He has called us to walk the straight and narrow way. Anything He takes out of our lives is with His purposes and our good in mind. He is a good Father, and He does all things well.

To be disciples, we must submit to His discipline. We each have a choice. We can choose to submit or we can rebel. If we submit, we will find that our spiritual strength will increase. We will be able to bear more, and we will be useful to our Father. We will find ourselves ready to handle what comes our way, because our Father has prepared us for what He knew was coming. If we rebel, saying (by words or actions) that it is all too hard and we would rather do our own will, we will be easy prey for the enemy, and deception will soon overtake us. If we want to be disciples, we cannot look for the easy road.