September 11, 2018
Hebrews 12:3-13 New Living Translation (NLT)
God has welcomed humanity to come to his heart of Love. But, when he receives us we must submit ourselves to his discipline. His heart is holy and pure in Love and we have to learn what God declares holy and loving living by accepting His discipline when we try to support unholy mindsets, emotions, and actions. Learning God’s love can be a painful process especially if we have spent years acting in a purely human understanding of love. When God disciplines us, he is actually loving us with a deep and abiding affection, because he is the Father of our spirits.
The Apostle Paul reminds his readers the Christian life is about hard work. We must be willing to step away from whatever hinders our relationship with God and press on to finish the faith race. We must be willing to accept God’s correction gratefully, because God has already declared his love for us through Jesus Christ. So, live with the victory of pleasing God’s heart and love in a way that helps others long for a relationship with Him, too.
Hebrews 12:3-13
3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,
“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t give up when he corrects you.
6
For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”
7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?
10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
12 So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. 13 Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving me enough to discipline me and help me better understand your pure love. Thank you for welcoming me as your child; the Father of my spirit. Holy Spirit, help me to accept the discipline that is necessary to transform my mind, will, and emotions so I may live in a way that pleases my Father. In Jesus’ name. Amen.