The Discipline of the Father

Heb. 12:5-7

"And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

'My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by Him. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.'

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons."

By the Holy Spirit I was revealed the worst form of discipline God could give a son. It is simply the deprivation of the light of His face, the thing His people need and want the most.

The background to this illustration was provided on a summer vacation I went to with my family. We arrived at a theme park. The theme park put on a dog show where we caught the tale end. The trainer saw there was an extra crowd that came so he decided to acclamate some of his more inexperienced dogs to a smaller crowd. As the trainer was throwing his frisbees around for the dogs he began telling of how he trained these dogs. He loved his dogs. You could see it in his eyes. He picked up some of the dogs from abusive situations as puppies. Those puppies were a wreck in terms of performance at first. They were frightened, scared little things. He explained that his method of punishment wasn't to physically hit them as nuisances nor harm them by wiping their noses in their own doo-doo so to speak. If they did something wrong especially while in training, the trainer would then turn his back, withdraw his face and ignore them. The dogs would then go frantic. Their master hid his face. They were desparate.

The master trained the dogs by teaching them relationship. He did not whip them in to shape or even bark orders. He did not simply have them do things, he was training them to be something. The dogs performed gloriously in front of a crowd because the master dealt with them most lovingly and shrewdly. These exploits were totally based off of a relationship.

The worst part of all this is that we can be the frantic little dogs and not even know it. This method of discipline is an art form that only God can lead us in. The one whom He sets His love upon will be familiar with His discipline and the methods of His frowing providence in a hidden smile.

The Lord bless you and cause His face to shine upon you.