Compiled & Written By: Lisa K Gonzales
From: The Life Application Study Bible
5 “And have you entirely forgotten the encouraging words GOD spoke to you, HIS children? HE said, ‘My child, do not ignore it when the LORD disciplines you, and do not be discouraged when HE corrects you. 6 For the LORD disciplines those HE loves, and HE punishes those HE accepts as HIS children.’ 7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that GOD is treating you as HIS own children. Whoever heard of a child who was never disciplined? 8 If GOD does not discipline you as HE does all of HIS children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really HIS children after all. 9 Since we respect our earthly fathers who disciplined us, should we not all the more cheerfully submit to the discipline of our heavenly Father and live forever?” ~ Hebrews 12:5-9
“This is going to hurt me, more than it is going to hurt you.” I never understood that statement coming from my parents just before receiving punishment for a wrong I had committed. It just did not make sense. It was not until I had my own children that I understood what they were trying to say. The pain in your heart from having to discipline your very own child is sometimes unbearable – you just want to erase the whole matter. Just as we discipline our children, our heavenly Father disciplines HIS children. Verse six tells us that he disciplines those HE loves and HE punishes those HE accepts as HIS children. I can tell you, I have felt extremely loved over the years! And I thank GOD.
Who loves his child more – the father who allows the child to do what will harm him, or the one who corrects, trains, and even punishes the child to help him learn what is right? It is never pleasant to be corrected and disciplined by GOD, it can really sting, to say the least. But HIS discipline is a sign of HIS deep love for us. When GOD corrects you, see it as proof of HIS love, and ask HIM what HE is trying to teach you. Believe me, the sooner you submit to HIS chastisement and ask HIM the lesson to be learned, the better off you will be.
10“For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But GOD’s discipline is always right and good for us because it means we will share in HIS holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening – it is painful! But afterward there will be a quiet harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” – Hebrews 12:10-11 – We may respond to discipline in several ways: (1) We can accept it with resignation; (2) we can accept it with self-pity, thinking we really do not deserve it; (3) we can be angry and resentful toward GOD; or (4) we can accept it gratefully, as the appropriate response we owe a loving Father. Cheerfully submit to the discipline of our heavenly Father and live forever and remember GOD’s discipline is always right and good for us because it means we will share in HIS holiness.
Thank YOU, Father for loving me – even when I am not so lovable. Although no discipline is enjoyable while it is happening, I know that afterward I will have a quiet harvest of right living. YOUR discipline is proof that YOU love me. LORD, when my times of chastisement come around, and I am sure they most certainly will, help me to remember to ask YOU what YOU are trying to teach me so that I may submit to YOUR discipline. I know that YOUR discipline is always good and right for me because it means I will share in YOUR holiness.
Photo: South Lake Tahoe (California)
Photo By: Lisa K Gonzales
Click on the photo to enlarge
