Discipline and Glory

“Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves,
So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
For He inflicts pain, and gives relief;
He wounds, and His hands also heal.” Job 5:17-18

As I ran out this passage, I wanted to argue, “That is not who my God is. My God doesn’t inflict pain or wound me. He is good.”

This verse was Job’s friend Eliphaz attributing Job’s affliction to God. At the same time, he was also trying to reassure Job that if God brought the affliction about, then God would also bring the healing.

Sickness and disease come from sin. Not necessarily a person’s sin but because sin entered the world. God is the same yesterday, today, and always. There are times that God put sickness on people in the Old Testament to bring conviction and discipline. We know from the New Testament that healing brings God’s glory.

We don’t get to pick how God disciplines us. We get to decide what we do with it. Do we allow it to change us? Or do we continue in our sin?

Lord if you need my attention, if there is correction needed in my life, reveal it to me. I want any discipline to bring You glory. I want any sickness, whether from You or because of the sin in the world, to bring You glory. In Jesus name amen.