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 punishes everyone he accepts as a son. (Hebrews 12:5-6)
I once heard someone say, “I am a spoiled saint of the Most High God!” Now, depending on your definition of the word “spoiled,” I submit to you that there is no such thing in God’s family of faith!
The best possible definition of the term “spoiled child” that I can come up with describes children who consistently exhibit behavioral problems caused by being overindulged and under-disciplined by their doting parents. In a word, these parents have raised a brat! Are there any kids you know who come to mind when you read that definition?
How should we understand the term “spoiled” as it relates to the child of God? That would be rooted in our definition of overindulged. To be sure, we are overindulged with . . .
Love
Mercy
Grace
Goodness
Forgiveness
Kindness
The list could fill this entire blog! Is there anyone reading this who can fully describe the “overindulgence” we receive from our omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent God? But when we read this list of “overindulgences,” we are never to think it includes words such as pampered, babied, coddled, or spoiled. Loved by God? Most definitely! We are infinitely loved by Him! Spoiled by God? Not a chance! Make no mistake about this truth: God would have none of us as His children rather than coddle a bunch of self-centered, self-absorbed, self-seeking, and self-interested ones.
We must keep in view the fact that the grace that saves us is the same grace that sanctifies us, and the business of sanctification is often a painful process. God’s greatest goal for every one of His children is to conform them into the image and likeness of His beloved and precious Son. And that takes discipline . . . discipline that is designed to deflate the ego that is continually edging God out. The self does not die in a day, but daily, and God will not stop short of conforming us perfectly into the image of His Son.
It will never be said of our Father in heaven what was said about King David concerning his parenting of his son Adonijah: “His father [David] had never corrected him by saying, “Why do you do such things?'” (1 Kings 1:6 NET). No, Scripture tells us that we should expect the rod of discipline from our loving, heavenly Father:
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. (Hebrews 12:7-8)
Nobody wants a spoiled child. So we discipline our children in love, with the goal of course correction and heart transformation. God will not settle for a spoiled saint. So He disciplines us by every means necessary, which is a kind of love that will never spoil!
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 