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.

Message in Chinese

翻译成中文：

神所有的儿女都会受管教

主会管教祂的儿女吗？当然会。主借着试炼来管教祂的儿女，目的是考验并坚固他们的信心，使荣耀、尊贵和赞美都归给耶稣基督。

那么，什么是试炼呢？根据詹姆斯·麦克唐纳（James MacDonald）在《当生命艰难时》（When Life is Hard）这项关于试炼的学习中所说，试炼是神所允许的一种痛苦经历，为的是改变我们的行为和品格。对一些人来说，这听起来可能很奇怪，但神这样做是因为祂爱我们。

希伯来书 12:5–115 你们竟忘了那劝你们如同劝儿子的话，说：“我儿，你不可轻看主的管教，被祂责备的时候，也不可灰心；6 因为主所爱的，祂必管教（有些译本作‘管教’），又鞭打凡所收纳的儿子。”

经历试炼对我们是有益处的。《雅各书》中谈到了经历试炼的益处。

雅各书 1:2–42 我的弟兄们，你们落在百般试炼中，都要以为大喜乐；3 因为知道你们的信心经过试验，就生忍耐。4 但忍耐也当成功，使你们成全、完备，毫无缺欠。

重要的是，我们不要逃避试炼，而要拥抱试炼。我们也许不明白为什么会经历这些试炼，但我们可以求主帮助我们明白。

彼得前书 1:6–76 因此，你们是大有喜乐；但如今，在百般试炼中暂时忧愁，7 叫你们的信心既被试验，就比那被火试验仍然能坏的金子更显宝贵，可以在耶稣基督显现的时候，得着称赞、荣耀和尊贵。

我们的试炼中蕴含着极大的价值。试炼被用来除去我们生命中的杂质，就像金子被加热，以除去其中的杂质一样。

约伯记 23:1010 然而祂知道我所行的路；祂试炼我之后，我必如精金。

所以，作为基督徒，我们可以预期会有试炼，因为神爱我们。如果你现在没有经历试炼，而你又是基督徒，那么试炼正在来的路上。如果你的生命中完全没有试炼，我会确认你是否真的是这位君王的儿女。

All God’s Kids get Discipline