The Chastening Father

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

1 Peter 1:14-16

If you are a Christian, saved by grace, through faith, in Christ alone you are a child of God. Because we are His children we are expected to live a certain way, behave, and act a certain way. We are commanded to be like obedient children. As a father there were times when I had to discipline my children. I wish I could tell you that I always did out of love for them and not anger. When my identical twins, Jesse and Joshua, were about five years old. Joshua came into the den and asked me if he could watch TV. I told him no. About five minutes later he came back in and asked again. I told him no once more. This did not deter him and five minutes later he came in again asking the same question. At this point I became angry at him for continuing to ask the same question. I told him if he came in again I would spank him. He left but within two minutes he came back in and asked the same question. I snatched him up and spanked him. He started to cry and ask what he had done. At that point I realized that Joshua had sent his twin brother Jesse to ask the same question. Needless to say I felt terrible about what I had done.

Fortunately God does not punish us by mistake. He corrects us because He loves us and wants to us to be holy as He is holy. The writer of Hebrews reminds us, “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” When you, as a believer, are willfully involved in lifestyle choices that you know are (passions of your former ignorance) sin, God will chasten you as a loving father. The most pitiful and miserable person is a believer who is engaged in sin because God will not let His children know peace and joy when they are disobedient. The discipline from God should bring us to a place where we turn from our sin, ask His forgiveness and once again become, As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”  

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark