⁹ Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? ¹⁰ For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.

Discipline in the spiritual life is illustrated using the familiar father-child discipline that is commonly understood. For some today, this is a difficult illustration to accept, in that thoughts of their fathers bring memories of abuse or neglect. Yet we all know that fathers ought to provide discipline for the child’s good, for a child left to itself will develop undisciplined, self-centered habits of life.

The same is true of the spiritual life. Left to ourselves, we would become undisciplined and self-centered in our spiritual lives. This is axiomatic to Christian life and growth. We absolutely need God’s guiding hand, even more so than we need earthly discipline.

Yet, the odd thing is that none of us thinks we need God’s discipline. We are “mature adults” and feel this translates automatically into mature spirituality, no longer in need of childlike discipline from our heavenly Father. How wrong is that? We are never too old for spiritual discipline!

What is discipline? Discipline in this context is the application of outside forces (circumstances or events) to effect behavioral change. There may be an element of chastisement and rebuke, and yes, even punishment. However, the main idea is to bring positive change. For example, a child learns the discipline of not touching an electrical outlet, by a stern scolding or a light slap on the hand. It is better that he learns when the consequence is a small amount of pain rather than when the consequence is a large amount of pain or even death (like later sticking a hair pin or wire into the outlet). So discipline is like an inoculation, the applying of a small dose of something to avoid the large infection.

The Father’s goal for us is not just physical preservation, but spiritual holiness. Notice that this does not come naturally, not even for Christians. We need discipline to grow in holiness. That is what is “good” for us, and we can’t do it without the struggles, difficulties and trials that God brings into our lives. Yes, we are to grow in holiness, and we need to embrace our trials as keys to that end. This is what Paul writes in another place, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil 1:6). It won’t always be easy, but it will be well worth it.

Lord, I don’t ask You to take away all my difficulties and trials, but help me to grow in and through them, for they are Your disciplines working in my life.