Nobody likes a spanking

"And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,
   “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,
      and don’t give up when he corrects you.
   For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
      and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

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. So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong." Hebrews 12:5-6, 11-13

Encouraging eh, ask any 7 year old if they feel encouraged after having been "instructed" in the ways of obedience with a spoon to the back side. May not be their first response. And yet I've seen in my 7 year old, Max, a surprising willingness to co-operate with our discipline lately. We're working on some areas of self-control at the moment, which have needed regular correction.

He's tired of the continued discipline I'm sure, I know I am. But I'm looking forward to "a peaceful harvest of right living" once he's been "trained". Right now the lack of training has resulted in a lack of peace for the whole household. In submitting to our discipline there is growth in his understanding of right behavior.

Isn't that true of us in the body of Christ. How we endure discipline, teaching, correcting affects the whole family. How we live our lives as trained, disciplined children of God affects the "weak and lame" who are following after us. If we're honest, which of us isn't weak or lame in some way, we need each other to be muscular, well trained Christians.

Are there areas of your life that have gone untrained, that God would like to correct as your Father? I know there are some in my life. Can you see how those area's affect those in your physical or spiritual family? I plan to spend time today asking God to reveal the spiritual flab in my life and then yield to him for training. Will you join me?