Hebrews 12:1-13
Wednesday, 20 October 2021
“…But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.” Heb.12:10[NLT]
Each of us who have got well past our childhood/growing up years knows the value of sound discipline! Though we may have moaned or groaned under some harsh discipline from our earthly parents, looking back we’ve often been grateful for those “rods” (might not have been physical) of discipline! The author of Hebrews in this portion draws a similar parallel to our Heavenly Father’s discipline for His sons and daughters.
The Chapter begins with an exhortation on running the Christian race with endurance, looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Jesus is our ROLE MODEL of One who ran His race and finished it well- He learnt obedience by what He suffered (Heb.5:8), endured the cross and finally sat at the place of honour beside God’s throne (Vs.3). Let us draw strength from Him!
God’s discipline has a purpose and an outcome. Let us dwell on these two aspects.
The Reason in Discipline
The Lord disciplines those He loves! (V.6)- a proof of His love. Well, that’s kind of bearable for us! It proves we are His legitimate children! In the history of Israel, we see the Lord bringing discipline to get them back to His ways. Deut.8:5 says: “Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.” We are so prone to wander from the path He laid out for us and that’s when the rod of discipline has to be applied to keep us on track! We are to submit to our Father when He disciplines us so we can live forever (Vs.9). Certain afflictions we go through in life are God’s way of humbling us to examine our lives where we have gone astray from Him. Psalm 119:67 says, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.”
The Result of Discipline
God’s discipline is good for us! We share in His holiness afterwards (V.10). After the pain of discipline there is a peaceful harvest of righteous living for those who are trained in this way (V.11). Just as we know how a child is benefitted by a parent’s discipline, we too will become sons and daughters that our Heavenly Father is proud of, after we have learnt what He wants, through those tough days.
Note the use of the word, “trained”- there is a training in discipline that brings forth a good harvest of righteous living.
Now the question before us is- will we submit or resist the discipline of God in our lives? If we submit we see have seen the results. But if we resist, the hand of discipline may even become tougher because He loves us and wants to see us back on track if we have strayed away.
May the Lord help us examine our lives before Him and ask the Holy Spirit to show us areas we still haven’t surrendered to His discipline and we are facing tough struggles in our lives. May that conviction lead us to yield our lives to Him that He can mould us that one day He will look at us and see the reflection of His Son on our very lives!— “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son… “(Romans 8:29)
Thought for the Day: “For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.” -Prov.3:12
Listen: ‘All that I am’
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