Hebrews 12:3-15 The Father's Chastening

For consider him who has endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you don’t grow weary, fainting in your souls. You have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin; and you have forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as with children, “My son, don’t take lightly the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him; For whom the Lord loves, he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you endure. God deals with you as with children, for what son is there whom his father doesn’t discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have been made partakers, then are you illegitimate, and not children. Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? For they indeed, for a few days, punished us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness. All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised thereby. Therefore lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that which is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord, looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it. Understand this: The Father's discipline is not the Father's punishment. Punishment belongs to the non-believer and discipline to the Children of God. The purpose of discipline is to prevent serious error by one of his household. It is not pleasant but it puts us back on the straight road set forth by him. If you are never disciplined you have grounds to question weather you are a son. Be sure that if you respond to his discipline you will be rewarded because honoring your father comes with a promise - that things may go well with you. Love is sometimes hard love but we must learn the lesson the the Almighty is presenting. Footnotes:Hebrews 12:6 Proverbs 3:11-Hebrews 12:12 Isaiah Hebrews 12:13 Proverbs 4:26