Ouch

I am being disciplined by my loving heavenly Father. He really loves me, but the discipline still really hurts. I’ve been going through some things, and wondering why. I was reading God’s Word in preparation for this Sunday’s teaching, when I realized that maybe the main recipient of this lesson is me.

Here’s the thing: I’ve recognized this as God’s discipline, and that makes me feel a little better, because I know the reason God disciplines us is not to destroy us, but to make us better. But I’m also feeling more than just a little stiff-necked. I love that word combination employed in the wilderness experience texts to describe the stubbornness and unteachableness of the recently delivered Israelite people. But I don’t love it when it’s me. And here’s something I’m realizing; I know God is on my side and this is happening to me to make me more like Christ. It’s a wonderful thing to be loved by the kind of God who accepts me as I am, but loves me too much to just leave me this way. He loves me enough to hurt me so good.

Read Hebrews 12:4-11 and you’ll understand.