Heb. 12:7-8

7 If [ei] ye endure [hupomeno] chastening [paideia], God [theos] dealeth [prosphero] with you [humin] as [hos] with sons [huios]; for [gar] what [tis] son [huios] is he [esti] whom [hos] the father [pater] chasteneth [paideuo] not [ou]?

8 But [de] if [ei] ye be [este] without [choris] chastisement [paideia], whereof [hos] all [pas] are [ginomai] partakers [metochos], then [ara] are ye [este] bastards [nothos], and [kai] not [ou] sons [huios]. KJV-Interlinear

7 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. NASB

The primary purpose for discipline is to teach. This is done through correction, and punishment in some cases, but primarily so that we will learn to keep our eyes on the Lord and not on our self or on the world.

God deals with us as a parent would with children. If you are a believer in Christ then you can expect discipline from time to time in your life. But if you are not a believer in Christ then you will not be a recipient of Gods discipline. However, you will be the recipient of the world s discipline and Gods judgment.

It is far better to be Gods child, and therefore subject to His discipline, than it is to be an unbeliever and subject to the whims of the world.

Discipline for the believer in Christ is proprietary. Gods discipline is unique to the believer only and is not available to the unbeliever. The person who has not believed in Christ does not have a relationship with God and therefore does not have access to Gods spiritual training.

We are the recipients of Gods discipline not because we were born human beings, but because through Christ we have become His son. Or, better stated we have become his adult child because we have believed in Jesus Christ.

Any loving parent will be committed to helping their child conform to the highest standards of life. They do this through instruction and training. God does no different. God teaches us through doctrine, and our training comes through the application of the doctrine we learn, or the miss-application of what we should have learned.

Our feedback from Gods teaching, discipline, or training, is through the blessing we receive or the correction we receive. Whichever is appropriate.

2 Tim. 3:16-17

16 All Scripture is God breathed and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; 17 that the man of God might be mature, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. NASB

Now is the time to post a prayer.