Scripture to Read: Luke 1:21–23
God lovingly disciplines His children when we choose to blatantly walk in disobedience to Him. God promises us this in Hebrews 12:7–11, “It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” God loves us enough not to leave us walking in disobedience, and though discipline is not enjoyable, but painful, we can rest assured that afterward we will experience God’s peaceful fruit of righteousness through Christ our Lord. God wants us living fully for Him, and He’ll do in our lives whatever it takes to guide us down the path of righteousness. In Luke 1:21–23, we see that when Zacharias exited the temple, he stood before the crowd unable to speak. From his gestures, the people knew that he had seen a vision while in the temple. Through our fellowship with God, may people always see Him reflected in our lives (Ephesians 5:1).
Challenge & Application
Why does God lovingly discipline His children?
What are some ways that others will recognize that we are God’s children and that we live to honor and glorify Him?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!