Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. (Hebrews 12:7–8)
Disciplining children has become controversial in American society. Increasingly, the so-called “experts” on rearing children tell parents that discipline is negative and should be used sparingly or not all.
Interestingly, disciplining children is not controversial in God’s Word. God tells us to do it. In fact, the Lord tells us that failure to discipline children is paramount to treating your kid as illegitimate, and not as a real son or daughter. Why? Godly discipline for a child happens for one reason: for the good of the child.
Proper discipline in the way God has designed it has training value and is done in love. Growing up, my dad seldom had to discipline me. But when he did, it was an event. He would explain what I did wrong and why I was going to be punished. Following the punishment, he would give me a hug. The discipline was painful, but I always knew dad loved me and punished me for my benefit.
