Discipline is a major component of success in every area of intelligent life.
It should begin at home, when we are children, leading to submission to legitimate authorities as we get older.
It should become self discipline as we are growing up.
Discipline does not save anyone but lack of discipline can destroy a person.
Personal, family, organizational, governmental arenas all depend on discipline in order to succeed in their task.
Spiritual success does not come to the undisciplined person.
Remember, the word disciple comes from the same root as discipline. We cannot be the disciples (followers and learners of Christ) if we do not exercise discipline.
Without discipline we are like the seed on the rock, we believe for a while, but in time of temptation, trial, we fall away.
Without discipline we are like the man who puts his hand to the plow, but then looks away.
Discipline is applied to words, thoughts and deeds.
Discipline is not a work of grace, it is the grace of God at work.
Discipline (training) comes from various sources.
1. Parental. Our earliest training comes from parents. Discipline should direct our attention to God. As we learn to submit and learn from our parents, we learn how to submit and learn from God. Parental discipline should prepare us to accept other human authorities. Proper parental discipline should model godly and loving discipline to us.
2. Divine. God designed us and enables children to respond positively to parental discipline, in preparation for positive response to Divine discipline. Children should hear the voice of God early and become obedient to God's rule.
3. Legitimate Human Authority. Children should accept training from legitimate human authority, such as family members (grandparents, uncles, aunts), along with pastors, teachers, coaches, music teachers and others with positions of leadership.
4. Self. Self discipline should be realized early in a person's life. Self discipline can and should be learned through submission to other human discipline.
5. Adult Relationships. Discipline is administered by educators, employers and military. There is also a discipline within the local church. In fact, God commanded us to submit to others in our local churches.
6. Adult Family Relationships. While wives are explicitly commanded to yield to their husbands, husbands must also render a loving submission to the needs of their wives. This brings us back to the children. Children are disciplined by their parents, both directly and indirectly, when they watch their parents interact with each other, with the pastor and with fellow believers.
Discipline In The Salvation Experience.
We are born with a need to get saved. Proper home and school discipline prepares the child for submission to Divine authority and discipline. After coming to salvation, the believer needs to yield to Divine discipline, which will bring the believer to total surrender and the fullness of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit fulled life is one of learning and following Jesus.
We are not saved by discipline, but we will not stay saved if we do not accept the disciplines of God and live a life of self denial, taking up the cross and following Jesus. Being a disciple of Christ is living a life of Christian discipline.
A couple of things to note.
The first thing to notice is, just because people are in the same family does not mean that they should be recognized as authority figures by the children. While children ought to show proper respect for older people, it does not mean they should obey them. Also, parental authority should never be challenged by other family members.
Discipline (training) comes from various sources.
1. Parental. Our earliest training comes from parents. Discipline should direct our attention to God. As we learn to submit and learn from our parents, we learn how to submit and learn from God. Parental discipline should prepare us to accept other human authorities. Proper parental discipline should model godly and loving discipline to us.
2. Divine. God designed us and enables children to respond positively to parental discipline, in preparation for positive response to Divine discipline. Children should hear the voice of God early and become obedient to God's rule.
3. Legitimate Human Authority. Children should accept training from legitimate human authority, such as family members (grandparents, uncles, aunts), along with pastors, teachers, coaches, music teachers and others with positions of leadership.
4. Self. Self discipline should be realized early in a person's life. Self discipline can and should be learned through submission to other human discipline.
5. Adult Relationships. Discipline is administered by educators, employers and military. There is also a discipline within the local church. In fact, God commanded us to submit to others in our local churches.
6. Adult Family Relationships. While wives are explicitly commanded to yield to their husbands, husbands must also render a loving submission to the needs of their wives. This brings us back to the children. Children are disciplined by their parents, both directly and indirectly, when they watch their parents interact with each other, with the pastor and with fellow believers.
Discipline In The Salvation Experience.
We are born with a need to get saved. Proper home and school discipline prepares the child for submission to Divine authority and discipline. After coming to salvation, the believer needs to yield to Divine discipline, which will bring the believer to total surrender and the fullness of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit fulled life is one of learning and following Jesus.
We are not saved by discipline, but we will not stay saved if we do not accept the disciplines of God and live a life of self denial, taking up the cross and following Jesus. Being a disciple of Christ is living a life of Christian discipline.
A couple of things to note.
The first thing to notice is, just because people are in the same family does not mean that they should be recognized as authority figures by the children. While children ought to show proper respect for older people, it does not mean they should obey them. Also, parental authority should never be challenged by other family members.
Three mistakes are made here,
1- children are put at risk when they are subjected to unworthy influences, of any age, in any setting.
2- Family unity is broken down when assertive and overreaching people try to wield power over children, whether friends, family or otherwise.
3- Children need to be taught that resistance to usurped or anti-Christian rule is expected of them. Children need to know that they can defy authority when it defies God.
The second thing to notice is that parents who do not allow legitimate and worthy family members to influence the lives of their children are actually hurting their children. While no parent should surrender their position to another person, whether family or otherwise, parents should be willing to welcome loving and wise support from family members who want to under gird the disciplines of the parents. The children need to know that they are accountable to other people besides their parents. This has helped great numbers of children to avoid pitfalls that they would have suffered.
I can not say enough about the importance of raising children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; raising children in an extended family that holds to the same Bible beliefs; raising children in a sound Christian church that provides the social atmosphere of Christ centeredness.
The second thing to notice is that parents who do not allow legitimate and worthy family members to influence the lives of their children are actually hurting their children. While no parent should surrender their position to another person, whether family or otherwise, parents should be willing to welcome loving and wise support from family members who want to under gird the disciplines of the parents. The children need to know that they are accountable to other people besides their parents. This has helped great numbers of children to avoid pitfalls that they would have suffered.
I can not say enough about the importance of raising children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; raising children in an extended family that holds to the same Bible beliefs; raising children in a sound Christian church that provides the social atmosphere of Christ centeredness.
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