The Fruit of Discipline

 Most people do not like discipline. We do not like having to discipline ourselves to do certain things. Also, we do not like being disciplined for the times that we fail to do the right things. Either way, we have to experience some discomfort. Since we do not like being uncomfortable, most people stay away from discipline. The problem is that then we fail to have the rewards discipline brings to our life. The Lord makes this clear in Hebrews. (Hebrews 12:11) All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful. However, to those who are trained by discipline, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. We want this fruit, but we can't have it without discipline. Let me explain.

We do not do what is best for us naturally. We do not eat what we should eat, if we eat everything we want to eat. We do not think about the things that will benefit us, if we let our minds roam to anything that comes into them. We waste our money, if we simply buy whatever we think will make us happy. See what I mean? It takes disciplining ourselves or getting others to help us to be disciplined to really make it a habit to do what is best for us. That is what we mean by being "trained by discipline." Once we are trained, and we begin to do the right things over and over, we are living in righteousness before God and other people. This life of righteousness causes us to have peaceful fruit. We are at peace with ourselves, with God, and with others. This is life at its best, but most people never have it, because they shy away from any kind of discipline. Instead, we must see discipline as a good thing, and we must allow it to work in our lives to produce the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Hebrews 13 and James 1-2.