The Discipline of God
January 27, 2022
Commentary
In today’s passage we find the teaching of discipline by our heavenly Father. There are at least three ways God could deal with us when we sin:
First of all, God could condemn us – that would be legalismThen again God could condone us – that would be liberalismHe can correct us – that is loveIn the first few verses of this chapter the writer is saying, “If you are not a Christian, get in the race, because you have to enter before you can hope to win. If you are a Christian, run with endurance and don’t give up (vv. 1-2). Many of the Hebrew Christians, to whom this letter was written, had started well. But as the new began to wear off and problems began to arise. They started looking back at the old ways of Judaism, and they began to weaken and waver.
The key word in the next few verses is “discipline.” God uses hardship and affliction as a means of discipline and training His children, and to help them mature in their spiritual lives (vv. 3-4). The first thing we should think of when we are suffering is our Father’s love, “for whom the Lord loves He chastens (disciplines)” (v. 5-6). The second thing that discipline proves is our sonship (vv. 7-8). If we never get disciplined we are probably not sons at all.
Application
God reminds me in this passage that even though trials come, they could be worse. Hardships only prove that I am one of his sons. A father that truly loves his child disciplines him. I am so glad that my heavenly Father loves me!
Hebrews 12:1– 8 (NET)
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, 2 keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up. 4 You have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed in your struggle against sin. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons? “My son, do not scorn the Lord’s discipline or give up when he corrects you.
6 “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts.”
7 Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? 8 But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons.
Illustration: Dad is Prepared Prepare Yourself
I heard about a young boy who went off to one of these extremely expensive universities. The bills were coming in monthly to his parents, and they were struggling to keep their heads above water. One day the boy’s mother received a letter from him that read like this: “Dear Mom: I’m writing to inform you that I have flunked all of my courses. I had an accident and totally wrecked my car, I owe the clothing store in town $2000, and I have been suspended for the next semester because of misconduct. I am coming home, prepare Dad!” His mother wrote a one line letter back to him that just said this: “Dear son: Dad is prepared, prepare yourself.” (Source Unknown).