All God’s Kids get Discipline
Does the Lord discipline His children? You bet He does. The Lord uses trials to discipline His children for the purpose of testing and strengthening their faith in order to bring praise, honor, and glory to Jesus Christ.
So, what is a trial? According to James Macdonald’s study on trials, “When Life is Hard”, a trial is a painful experience allowed by God to change our conduct and our character. It might sound strange to some, but God does this because He loves us.
Hebrews 12:5 – 11
5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, some translations says discipline And scourges every son whom He receives.
We do profit by going through our trials. In the book of James, it talks about the benefit of going through our trials.
James 1: 2 – 4
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
It is important not to run away from our trials but embrace them. We might not understand why we are going through trials, but we can ask the Lord to help us understand.
1 Peter 1:6-7
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
There is much value in our trials. Trials are used to purge the impurities out of our lives just like when gold is heated in order to remove impurities.
Job 23:10
10 But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
So as Christians we can expect trials, because God loves us. If you are not going through a trial right now and you are Christian, then a trial is on the way. If you don’t have trials in your life, I would make sure you are a Child of the King.
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