SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1376

“Measured Discipline”

If anyone serves me, he must follow me; – John 12:26

If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples – John 8:31

For I am with you to save you, declares the LORD…I will discipline you in just measure… – Jeremiah 30:11

A follower of Jesus is a disciple. We are truly His disciples if we abide in Him, and yes, the Lord disciplines His disciples in just measure.

The words “disciple” and “discipline” come from the same Latin root meaning “student” or “pupil.” Discipline is about instruction, training, and correction through reproof. The words translated as “just measure” mean that His discipline is meted out in proportionate justice to teach, and correct erroneous behavior. The Lord’s discipline is designed to cause us to learn from Him.

Discipline is not Condemnation. Condemnation deals with being declared guilty and therefore punished. Jesus already bore the punishment for our sins.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus – Romans 8:1

The Word of God Disciples and Disciplines us. Have you ever experienced conviction and repentance through the hearing and reading of the Word of God? The Word of God is living and active – It teaches us and corrects us when we wander or go astray from His path of righteousness.

Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law – Psalm 94:12

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. – Hebrews 4:12

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

A Disciple Exercises Self-Discipline.  We should exercise self-discipline in our day-to-day living – in our thoughts and actions. We do so out of love and obedience to the Word. In order to exercise self-discipline, we must remain in the Word – the reading, studying, meditating, and praying the Word.

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. – John 14:23

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. – 1 Corinthians 9:27

The Lord Loves us Enough to Discipline us. When we wander from following Jesus and live in disobedience to His Word, Jesus loves us enough to discipline us in just measure. He is committed to not losing any of His disciples.

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. – Revelation 3:19

And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me but raise it up on the last day. – John 6:39

A Disciple Must Not Despise Discipline. A true disciple is a follower of Jesus who desires to be like Him, to be holy as He is holy. A true disciple can rejoice in the trials of the Lord’s discipline because they know that the Lord is disciplining them in love and in just measure.

How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof! I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors. I am at the brink of utter ruin… – Proverbs 5:12-14

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. – Proverbs 12:1

Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore, despise not the discipline of the Almighty. – Job 5:17

As a disciple of Jesus and a born again child of God, may you grow in the admonition and discipline of the Lord as you whole-heartedly follow and learn from Him to be conformed to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13).

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 everyone whom he receives. – Hebrews 12:5-6