GOD DISCIPLINES THOSE HE LOVES (Part 2)

In the first part, we emphasized that God disciplines His children not only through corrective measures like rebuking and punishing but also through preventative measures like training, instructing, and encouraging.

God’s Word, the Holy Spirit, His grace, and our conscience are all transformative tools He uses in disciplining us.

In this second part, we wish to delve into another way God disciplines us. Trials, tribulations, and sufferings serve as a means of discipline with the purpose of fostering endurance, character development, hope, and growth in faith within us.

Our character is built as we endure trials and challenges; and as our character is strengthenef, it gives us a sense of hope (James 1:2-4; Romans 5:3-4).

We must also understand that God’s discipline may come to believers in the form of weakness, sickness, and even premature death if we fail to judge ourselves.

1 Corinthians 11:30-32 (AMPC)
30 That [careless and unworthy participation] is the reason many of you are weak and sickly, and quite enough of you have fallen into the sleep of death.
31 For if we searchingly examined ourselves [detecting our shortcomings and recognizing our own condition], we should not be judged and penalty decreed [by the divine judgment].
32 But when we [fall short and] are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined and chastened, so that we may not [finally] be condemned [to eternal punishment along] with the world.

Now, the pertinent question is: how can one know that God is testing his faith with the trials or that he is being judged because of his sins?

Thankfully, whenever God is using trials, tribulations, and sufferings to refine and mature any individual, He comforts the one, fills him with His peace and joy, and shows Himself strong on his behalf for him to triumph over the difficult circumstances.

GOD’S servant:Peter Collins Obeng
GRACE COVENANT GLORY