Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father. -Hebrews 12:7
Growing up, I am sure that most of us had to deal with parents that seemed rather overbearing and controlling, though some might have gone to the extreme. While teaching a Sunday School at Church, one of the most common phrases I heard during my one-on-one sessions with some of the older children was, "My parents are ruining my life! They never let me do anything." Can you relate to this? Did you ever say this concerning your parents or have you ever heard your children say this about you? Whatever the case may be, no one necessarily likes to be disciplined.
I wanted to do everything growing up, but my parents would not allow me, and their reasoning was always, "because it is for your own good." I often wondered, "how is it for my own good that you would not allow me to spend the night with my friends?" "How is it for my own good that you make me go to Church even when I don't want to?" "How is it for my own good that I cannot watch television when I want to, or date whomever I want to?" I never really understood what they meant by, "it is for your own good," until I got older and saw how their discipline helped to shape me into who I am today (hmm I don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing :) just kidding)
The Lord might have said no to some of your prayers, and you just could not seem to understand why. The Lord might have not prevented some things from happening to you that hurt you, and you just could not seem to understand why. The Lord might have delayed certain things that you wanted, but you just did not understand why. I challenge you today dear friends to embrace Paul's instructions from Hebrews 12 and consider the Lord's discipline as corrective or instructive training for our spiritual development. The Lord only does this because He loves us as His children.
Many of us never understood our parents' discipline until we had children or younger siblings, and some of us may still never understand until we have children of our own. Whatever the case may be, it is imperative that try to focus on the love behind the discipline, and open our hearts to learn and grow from them. I am sure that most of us can look back and see how our experiences with discipline shaped us into who we became. Paul continues in Hebrews 12:10, as he writes; Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness. 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.
I urge you today dear friends, let us begin to endure hardship as discipline, and rejoice that the Lord is treating us as His children. God truly does love us and definitely knows what is best for us. Imagine how different our lives would be if the Lord gave us every single thing we asked for and never chastised us when we went astray? Scary, isn't it?
Grace and peace be with you.
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