Who encourages you to live a godly life?  A godly life is a life of discipline.  It is one of obedience to the words of God.

Paul began many churches and kept in close touch with them.  He prayed for them, he used God’s words to encourage them and to discipline them.  The following verses are an example.

(NASB) 2 Corinthians 2:1-4 “But I determined this for my own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow again.
2 For if I cause you sorrow, who then makes me glad but the one whom I made sorrowful?
3 This is the very thing I wrote you, so that when I came, I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice; having confidence in you all that my joy would be the joy of you all.
4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.”

Reading these verses, I notice verse 4!  How many times have I disciplined others because I was angry and/or frustrated?  May God forgive me!

(NASB) 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Whether dealing with children or adults, love for them is to be the motive behind the discipline.

A loving parent, a loving leader at any level, will have “much affliction and anguish of heart” with “many tears” before disciplining others.  Love does that.  It does not put off discipline nor does it make light of misbehavior.

Godly loving discipline is a proof of love!  We are to care and love another enough to use godly discipline.  Godly discipline is “tough love” in action.

The outcome of godly discipline is an obedient heart doing God’s will, God’s way.

(NASB) Hebrews 12:7 “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?”

~ Take it to heart ~

Godly correction and godly discipline are done from love and not from anger or frustration.

Listen to God’s warning –
(NASB) Proverbs 29:15 “The rod and reproof give wisdom,
But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.”

Listen to God’s encouragement –
(NASB) Proverbs 29:17 “Correct your son, and he will give you comfort;
He will also delight your soul.”