Hebrews 12 - Disicipline

“This hurts me more than it hurts you”. “I’m punishing you because I love you.” “If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t punish you”. I heard these statements, or ones like them, a lot growing up. I never really understood them, how could you love me and punish me? But as I got older, I realized exactly how much my parents loved me, more than anything else in this world. They did punish me because they loved me, they punished me to keep from doing self-destructive things that would harm me, both physically and spiritually.

Because they cared enough for me, they didn’t want me to make mistakes that would jeopardize me, and they cared enough to do it even when I would dislike them for it. They endured pain and heartache from me, rebelling against punishment, saying hurtful words, but they still loved me enough to do what was best for me, and I thank them, love them, and respect them for it. For without them guiding me, disciplining me, directing me toward God, I shudder to think what would have happened to me. I thank God for them and their dedication to Him and to me.

Now, however much my earthly parents love me, God loves me infinitely more, as He loves each and every one of us. Therefore, because He loves us, we must be disciplined. “(6) because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." (7) Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons…” Therefore, our responsibilities as children of God are to:

1. Endure the situations we are facing, we may not like them (who does like punishment?), but we can endure, they are not forever, but God is
2. Seek God’s will, in all things His will be done
3. Learn from the situation, so we may further understand God’s will AND will avoid the action that led to the punishment. “live and don’t learn” should NEVER be anyone’s motto
4. Put our faith in God alone, lay down whatever is keeping us from Him
5. Know that God loves us and has a purpose for our situation, He can work miracles in seemingly “hopeless” situations
6. Thank God for His love, that He loves us enough to correct us when we stray

You see, situations, even really, really bad ones, are temporary. Just like a spanking, grounding, lecture, etc., they have an end and are for a greater purpose. Yes they are uncomfortable, even painful, but they help us to avoid even GREATER pain and disappointment we would have experienced on the same wrong path. If the situation, no matter how painful, keeps us from making a greater mistake, then it was worth it; that is what discipline is about. That is why it can only be done out of love; for if God didn’t love us, He wouldn’t care what we did, how it harmed us, or the pain we brought upon ourselves. However, since He DOES love us, He guides, directs, disciplines us sometimes gently and (when we don’t listen) sometimes a more forceful, but it is all to experience His greater glory and His abundant blessings that He has waiting for us.

If you are experiencing trouble, turmoil, pain, bad situations, please spend some time with God. Ask Him to search you, to reveal to you what you need to learn to follow His will. He will guide you and direct your paths because He loves you like no one else ever could. God bless you, keep you, and guide you to His abundant blessings.