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Do we really have to be disciplined?

by Ammishaddai Ofori  
12/11/2015 / Bible Studies

When my siblings and I were kids, we nicknamed our dad Okuntay (pronounced oh-coon-tay).
That's because dear daddy was so strict we gave him the same name as our headmaster who was definitely the strictest man we knew at that time. (Don't try to debate, my headmaster is stricter than yours :P).
So yeah, Okuntay used to give us all these many rules we thought at that time were unfair punishment.

"Be home by 5 pm if you go out"
"Be showered and in your PJs by 6 pm"
"Don't play with the neighbourhood kids who wander far away from their homes"
"You can do better in your exams even if you got 90%"

You feel me?
The rules got more relaxed as we grew up. We could come back home at 6 pm now lmao! And then 7 pm then on and on.
Was Okuntay really being unfair? Was he punishing us for stuff we didn't do? 25 year old me says no. I have come to appreciate the benefit of daddy's discipline. Thank you dad.

Today I want to share what God has given me from Hebrews 12:4-11
It is captioned, God Disciplines His Children.

"In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son."
Hebrews 12:4-6

I used to think of the LORD's discipline as punishment. Like I go and drink and I lose a liver. Or I go and have sex and the girl gets pregnant. Which if you ask me, is a good way of thinking because it definitely kept me from (over) drinking and I didn't have sex till I did... but I digress.

God's discipline is not only repercussions for our sins but also discipline in the form of training. Like how Okuntay made has return home early to keep us safe. Or learn harder for exams to be first in class (here's where I brag a bit ^_^).
God's discipline is for our own personal gain. Discipline in fasting makes as more aware of our spirit beings. Not smoking, drinking and having random sex (even if it is so damn good) keeps our hearts in check, our livers healthy and no unwanted babies or scary episodes that require a postinor.
We are disciplined to become better versions of ourselves till we come to the full realization of all we can do and become on earth.

"until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." - Ephesians 4:13 NIV

So does that mean God's discipline will relax with time like Okuntay's?
Well I know God doesn't change. He will discipline us till till but it gets relatively easier because we learn to obey him more absolutely with every progress we make in our disciplined life. Just like the more we go to the gym, the easier it seems to get. We are able to lift heavier weights than the first weights we ever lifted. But the weights don't get lighter do they? En contraire, they actually get heavier but we just have more muscle strength to lift them. And when we do lift the heavier weights, we get buffer. (yeah baby!)
Again scripture is always on point.

"They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness." Hebrews 12:10 NIV

" For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things,holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." 1 Timothy 4:8 NIV

So next time you hear the word 'discipline', you know you don't have to trip or fret or fear or whatever emotion it is you display.
Be excited! Like an overweight man going to the gym to shed off some pounds (ok definitely more excited than that guy).
"because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." - James 2:3

Here are some more verses to psych us up people!

"Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God."
- 2 Corinthians 7:1

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." - Colossians 2:6-7

"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Hebrews 5:48

As always, let us continue to "be #AWESOME christians with a hashtag".

Cheers!

Hello you! Call me Ammishaddai. I am a Christian writer in love with the power of FAITH and the law of attraction and I am super happy you are here! I have come to understand that we are who we say we are.

The Non-Cliched Christian

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