"Enter by the narrow gate;
for the gate is wide and the way is easy,
for the gate is wide and the way is easy,
that leads to destruction,
and those who enter by it are many.
and those who enter by it are many.
For the gate is narrow and the way is hard,
that leads to life,
and those who find it are few."
and those who find it are few."
Matthew 7:13-14
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to thy word. - Psalm 119:9
Discipline
People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray (Prv. 10:17). For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life (Prv. 6:23, Ps. 119:105). For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline (2 Tim. 1:7).
The Lord said, "Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent" (Rv. 3:19). Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty (Jb 5:17). The LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in (Prv. 3:12, Heb. 12:6).
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father (Heb. 12:7)?
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it (Heb. 12:11). The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever (Is. 32:17). If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment (Jb 36:11). And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it (Is.35:8).
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials (1 Pt. 1:6). We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing (2 Cor. 4:8). Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses (2 Cor. 6:4).
Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you ( Dt. 8:5). If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons (Heb. 12:8). For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father" (Rom. 8:15).
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof is stupid (Prv. 12:1). The path of life leads upward for the wise That he may keep away from Sheol below (Prv.15:4). Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm (Prv. 4:26). For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths (Prv. 5:21).
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise (Ps. 111:10). In all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction (2 Pt. 3:16).
When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. -- 1 Corinthians 11:32
Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD, the man you teach from your law (Ps. 94:12). You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand (Ps. 16:11). See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Ps. 139:24). In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.
