My Bible reading today:
1 Chronicles 9-10; Hebrews 12; Amos 6; Luke 1:39-80
How hard it can be for a child to see that when a parent disciplines them it is a show of love. (Not talking abusive behavior here, but discipline meant to train up a child in the way they should go.) Hebrews 12 speaks about God's discipline in that same way-as a parent disciplines a child. And a parent does not discipline a child who is not their own in the same way.
"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." -Hebrews 12:11, ESV Because of this wonderful outcome the writer of Hebrews goes on to say that we should therefore, "lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed." -verses 12-13
The posture I am take when being disciplined is what caught my attention. When our Heavenly Father disciplines us it can be a very difficult time-I may find myself weak in the knees, I may have hands that hang limply down rather than are raised to their work and worship. I certainly need to walk on the straight path God has laid before me rather than take a path He does not intend. But most of all, God's discipline will take that part of me that is lame-that part of me that is not working as it should and bring healing to it. To fight that discipline may mean that rather than healing I may become weak to the point where I can no longer function. When something it is out of joint it can no longer function as it was meant to.
God brings His discipline in order to keep that from happening to me. I cannot run the race if I am lame. For the moment it does indeed seem painful-but I must keep my eye on the prize. We must " lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder (author) and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." -Hebrews 12:1b-2, ESV
Grace, Peace, and Mercy,
Debra
1 Chronicles 9-10; Hebrews 12; Amos 6; Luke 1:39-80
How hard it can be for a child to see that when a parent disciplines them it is a show of love. (Not talking abusive behavior here, but discipline meant to train up a child in the way they should go.) Hebrews 12 speaks about God's discipline in that same way-as a parent disciplines a child. And a parent does not discipline a child who is not their own in the same way.
"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." -Hebrews 12:11, ESV Because of this wonderful outcome the writer of Hebrews goes on to say that we should therefore, "lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed." -verses 12-13
The posture I am take when being disciplined is what caught my attention. When our Heavenly Father disciplines us it can be a very difficult time-I may find myself weak in the knees, I may have hands that hang limply down rather than are raised to their work and worship. I certainly need to walk on the straight path God has laid before me rather than take a path He does not intend. But most of all, God's discipline will take that part of me that is lame-that part of me that is not working as it should and bring healing to it. To fight that discipline may mean that rather than healing I may become weak to the point where I can no longer function. When something it is out of joint it can no longer function as it was meant to.
God brings His discipline in order to keep that from happening to me. I cannot run the race if I am lame. For the moment it does indeed seem painful-but I must keep my eye on the prize. We must " lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder (author) and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." -Hebrews 12:1b-2, ESV
Grace, Peace, and Mercy,
Debra
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