THE DISCIPLINE OF CHRIST
The word discipline is a word that many people have taken to connote or mean something negative because it is usually associated with punishment for doing wrong. However, punishment is only a tiny aspect of discipline and not in any way all that discipline represents. There is a lot more to discipline than punishment. Discipline is about training to become. There is always a discipline requirement to become anything in life.
Jesus took upon Himself the punishment for sin (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10; 2 Corinthians 5:21) but God is still in the business of disciplining us (His children) to become who He wants us to be. Discipline is therefore inevitable for every believer. This is why the bible is a book of discipline.
2 Timothy 3:16 -17 (KJV) - All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
The Oxford dictionary defines discipline as the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behaviour, using punishment to correct disobedience. To discipline means to train; to drill; to teach; to school; to coach; and to educate.
Proverbs 22:6 (KJV) Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
In Matthew 4:18-22, Jesus called His first disciples by asking them to come and follow Him so He could make them who God wanted them to be. The 'making' of anyone is a function of the discipline they embrace. Following Jesus is about embracing His training so that He can mould our lives into the form and shape He has ordained for us. Jesus spent time teaching His disciples – He taught them about beatitudes, about who they are i.e., salt and light, about the law, about anger, adultery, divorce, vows, revenge, love for enemies, giving to the needy, prayer and fasting, money and possessions, not judging others, etc. He corrected and rebuked them when it was necessary. However, He did not just teach them, He also lived an exemplary life. This was why John testified of Him that He was full of grace and truth - John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Embracing Christ’s discipline.
Jesus gave us insight into why He did whatever He did and why He lived the way He lived on earth.
John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
Doing the will of God was Jesus’ only motivation when He was on earth. This must be our motivation as well. God’s desire is to raise disciples of Jesus Christ i.e., followers who will live like Christ.
Jesus in Matthew 11:29 (KJV) says Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
To take on His yoke is to be ready to do His will. The first step in embracing Christ’s discipline is to be ready to do His will and allow His will to prevail in all things in our lives. The question is how resolute are you about embracing God’s will in all things?
Matthew 11:29 (TPT) says Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me.
We can learn the ways of God when we are ready to embrace His will in our lives. There are many things we see that Jesus exercised Himself in when He was on earth e.g. fasting prayer, giving, studying the word, etc. However, exercising ourselves in those things will be of no benefit without first coming to that point where His will is all that matters to us. John 12:25 (TPT) says "The person who loves his life and pampers himself will miss true life! But the one who detaches his life from this world and abandons himself to me, will find true life and enjoy it forever!
Once the foundation of God’s will is settled within us, we are positioned to learn and embrace the ways of Christ and apply them to our lives. The discipline of Christ is not a one-off. It is a journey. May the Lord help us to continually learn the ways of Christ and apply them to our lives in Jesus' name.