Discipline

I decided to split Hebrews into two parts. Here is part one. I did a different way than previous entries but hope u guys will get much out of it.

Hebrews12: God disciplines His Sons

What

Paul is challenging the Jewish Christians who were undergoing severe persecution to finish their marked race (verse 1) with perseverance throwing off everything that hindered them, including sin. They were to be sinless and to resist it to the point of shedding blood (verse 4). Paul wants us to “endure hardships as a discipline” from our heavenly Father.

Why?

Mark of sonship and love

Just as our earthly fathers disciplines us, so God treats us as His heirs when He disciplines us/gives us hardships (verse 7-10). We are not to take it lightly and not to lose heart because he disciplines those He loves and accepts as His sons and heirs of His Kingdom (verse 5-6).

Sharing of holiness

He not only disciplines out of His love, but for our own good. So that we might share in His holiness. Later, Paul says we are to make every effort to be holy for without it, NO ONE will see the Lord (verse 14). Discipline brings holiness and makes us more into the image of the Lord as we are able to share and see Him.

Harvest of righteousness and peace

Discipline is gonna hurt ( verse 11) but if we persevere through it, it will “produce a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (verse 11). This is rather interesting. Paul starts by challenging us to finish a race (verse 1), and now he hints that we are to do it through discipline. That is our training; it is how we are to win this race. It also shows that this training and harvesting takes time (verse 11) and we might go through seasons of training and harvesting.

HOW

Christ as our example and answer

Yes, discipline is training by which we need to finish this race. But we don’t have to do it alone. Christ is our example and our source.

In Chapter 11, faith was the main topic. Here, Paul points to Christ as “the author and perfecter of our faith” (verse 2). We are to fix our gaze on Jesus (verse 2). He is the one who endured the cross, scorned shame, and later was raised and seated next to Father (verse 2). We are to consider Jesus. The way Jesus lived His life gives us the hope and strength we need (verse 3: so your heart will not grow weary and lose heart). Who Jesus is, his identity and power will give us the faith that is needed to persevere like the examples listed in Chapter 11. Also refer to Jars of Clay section in II Corinthians. Reminded me of it as I read this passage.

Prayer Request

Please, if you would, just say a little prayer for me regarding James 4:Section of Submitting yourself to God

This section is just really getting at my heart, especially lately. That whole section is something I want to pray through and I hope you will just say one short prayer for me regarding it. Specifically Verse 9: Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. Just coming to God in repentance and finding grace.

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