For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12:11, ESV

When I was a kid I was not a big fan of discipline. I did not like having to get up early and get cleaned up to go to school. I did not like having homework after school. I didn't like having to clean my room and make my bed. I wasn't particularly fond of having to be told what I had to do before I could go out and play either. And I really didn't like getting in trouble when I did something that was against somebody else's rules. In other words, I was pretty much the typical kid.

This is one of the reason that God gives us parents. 

God knew that we would be worthless slugs without discipline, so he gave us someone who would provide it. And we have to have discipline if we are ever going to amount to anything. Just imagine what the schools would look like without discipline. Kids would show up late, if they showed up at all. They would do whatever they pleased and they would probably harm more than a few innocent bystanders. They certainly wouldn't get any work done, so they wouldn't learn anything.

It would be the same with athletics. Kids would show up for practice sometimes, but they would goof around too much to really practice. They would show up for games, but wouldn't  be very good without having acquired the skills they missed at practice, and they wouldn't be too happy with the refs and umpires. They sure wouldn't win many games and they wouldn't be much fun to watch.

And we know what work would be like. People would come in late if they came in at all, and they would go home early. They would spend a lot of time for smoking breaks because people without discipline tend to smoke a lot, and they would drink most of the coffee in the breakroom to boot. They would give only passing attention to their bosses and they wouldn't get much accomplished. Then they would go home and complain about their day.

The sad thing is that the words written above describe pretty accurately some of our schools, teams, and workplaces today. Without discipline everything just seems to fall apart. This is why we need it, and this is especially why we need God. Consider the following:

My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching. Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. For these commandments are a lamp, this teaching is a light,

and the corrections of discipline are the way to life.

Proverbs 6:20-23, NIV

The fact is that it is the fool who despises discipline, but it is the wise man or woman who loves it. Discipline is one of the main factors to success in life. It makes us a better child of our parents, a better student, a better teammate on the field and in the office, and it especially makes us a better child of God. Those who embrace God's discipline will be more productive in every wholesome aspect of life, and it will make us a whole lot more fun to be around.

It will give us peace and joy and hope and every other blessing that flows to those who love God enough to walk in His ways. And someday, by God's grace, it will give us heaven.

When I was a kid, I wasn't very fond of discipline. But as I look back on it now, I am thankful to God for those wonderful people who instilled it in me so that I could have the happy life that I have had.