Hebrews 12: 4-7 A Father’s Discipline

Hebrews 12: 4-7 A Father’s Discipline You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; 5and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,“MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; 6 FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.”

It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

With Christ's work on the cross, men and women who receive the Son are received by the Father as sons and daughters of the Most High. Believers are never punished by God. That is, He is no enemy of the sons and daughters. If you are truly his, he will discipline you to make you into a better person which is the signature of his love for you. So do not be discouraged if you experience discipline and do not mistake it for punishment.

Daily Prayer: Father, I accept your hand of reproof and count it as joy of your love for me. Let me learn from you and be moved into the pattern of Christ Jesus my Savior. In your holy name I pray Amen.