Scripture Read: Hebrews 12:6 For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.”7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons
Application: If God is loving, then why would He cause us pain? For some reason this question is on the lips of every person I have met that does not want to admit there is a God. Yet I have never heard them accuse a parent that shows tough love of not existing. They understand that sometimes to love may include pain. Do we?
Disciplines - παιδεία paideía – This is discipline from a parent’s point of view – it is always met to grow - not destroy. In reality, we need to understand, in the end it is about a choice of pain. What do I mean? Sin is like rat poison – it brings death (separation) – whether it be physical, emotional, intellectual or spiritual. All are painful. So when we sin we can either experience the pain of the ramifications of separation or we can experience the pain of the loving hand of our Father – spanking us – to awaken us to the danger we are in. We can either desire the pain of sin and it’s end or the pain of God’s discipline, which in the end leads to maturity and life. Both may feel the same at first – but in the end are very different. Give us the pain that confirms we belong to You oh God – the other is a lonely and destructive end. 
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