Day #232 - Legitimate Sons
The Presence - A Devotional for living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder
“If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
Hebrews 12:7-11 NKJV
How did you get disciplined growing up?
I got timeouts from time to time in my room. I hated being sent to my room. I also got swats and I didn’t like those either. Sometimes I would get those speeches from my parents like “this hurts me more than it hurts you” or “I really wish I didn’t have to do this.” I was thinking, “than why do this?” The truth is that while I did not enjoy being disciplined, I knew that my parents loved me and corrected me so that I would learn to live right and deal with my negative behaviors.
God’s nearness is not all “sunshine and rainbows” as Rocky Balboa once said. God’s nearness will certainly bring His favor and love, but His love and favor does not always manifest as the things we enjoy. Sometimes God’s nearness brings His discipline in love. God’s discipline affirms His love for us and our identity of sonship. Being a person of “the Presence” means welcoming His discipline in our lives.
Isn’t it amazing to know we don’t have to be scared of God’s discipline? Rather, we can welcome His discipline knowing its His affirmation that we are loved. His disciplining and chastening in our life produces holiness in us. It can be painful but its for our profit. We learn to abide in “the Presence” through His discipline because we experience “the peaceable fruit of righteousness.” This is presence language.
If we are not disciplined, we are not children of God. If we are disciplined we are legitimate sons. I always knew my parents loved me and I wasn’t scared of them. However, I had a reverential fear of doing things that would hurt them in front of them. Being open to God’s presence brings us a holy fear knowing that His discipline proves His love for us and shapes us to be like Him.
Father God, thank You for Your love for me. I receive Your love not only how I like it but also through Your discipline. I fear You. Search my heart and life. I welcome Your correction and chastening so that I might know my identity as a legitimate son. I love You. In Jesus name, amen.
Search my heart oh Lord and give me a clean and obedient heart.I welcome your decipline as a child of God.
Yes, and amen. Search my heart and know my ways and lead me in the path of righteousness. Discipline and correct me when I stray. I too, want to be a legitimate son. I love you, Lord and I just want to be with you. In Your precious name.