Read Hebrews 12:7–29
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on,
however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for
those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:11
I am sure that few children believe it when their parents say, “This
hurts me more than it hurts you.” But it is true. The Father does not
enjoy having to discipline His children, but the benefits afterward
make the chastening an evidence of His love.
What are the benefits? For one thing, there is “a harvest of righteousness.” Instead of continuing to sin, the children strive to do what
is right. There is also peace instead of war. Chastening also encourages
children to exercise in spiritual matters—the Word of God, prayer,
meditation, witnessing, and so forth. All this leads to joy.
Of course, the important thing is how God’s children respond to His
chastening. They can despise it or faint under it (v. 5 KJV), both of which
are wrong. They should show reverence to the Father by submitting to
His will (v. 9 KJV), using the experience to exercise themselves spiritually.
In the King James Version, verses 12 and 13 sound like a coach’s
encouragement: “Lift up your hands. Strengthen those knees. Get those
lazy feet on the track. On your mark, get set, go” (author’s paraphrase)!
Something to Ponder
Why do you discipline yourself in ways that may not be pleasant
(dieting, exercise, and so forth)? What are the spiritual parallels of
such forms of self-discipline?