Discipline

“No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As adults we may think we are, gratefully, free from the years of discipline of our parents. However, we are expected to discipline ourselves. How do we do that? By refusing to agree to every lust that arrives. Lust comes not just for sex, but for food, clothes, cars, experiences, etc.

The last to be mentioned ‘fruit of the spirit’ is self-control. This is another name for self-discipline. How does it work? I choose to allow the Holy Spirit in my life to bring about self-control. He will take us through times where we have the choice: flesh or spirit. This will be in choosing to criticise, judge others or leave that to the Lord; choosing to be satisfied with what I have and not want what others have; choosing to fast instead of feast; choosing to be quiet instead of having entertainment and ‘fun’.

If we fail to listen, fail to walk righteously, things will fail for us. Our God knows how to bring us to have a hearing ear and repentance.

Jesus said: “it is better to fall upon the rock and be broken than to have the rock fall on us and be crushed”(Matt 21:43,44).

Humbly submitting to Jesus and His ways brings life, refusal brings destruction.

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