An Example of Discipline (Heb. 12:7-8)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 07-04-03

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  An example of discipline

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Hebrews 12:7- 8

 

            1.  Message of the verses:  “7 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?  8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.”  (NASB)  “As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children.  Whoever heard of a child who was never disciplined?  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 after all.”  (NLT)

            The writer now moves on to personal experiences of being disciplined, and takes that from the father, as he would discipline one of his sons.  I have heard it said that we never have to teach our children to do wrong, but we certainly have to correct their wrong doing, and the reason that is because we love them.  Sometimes it not only hurts the child to do this but it also hurts the father, but this is what they call tough love.  We as parents probably would on many occasions want to discipline one of the neighbor’s children but because they are not ours we do not do so.  Our heavenly Father only will discipline His own children, and the reason behind this is His great love for His own children.  He loves us too much to leaves us go in the direction that we are going.  One of the interesting words in this passage is found in verse 8 and it is the word translated in the NASB, “illegitimate,” which is only used one time in the Bible, and is translated “bastard” in the KJV.  Dr. MaCarthur says that this could be a reference to Hagar and Ishmael, as he was an illegitimate child of Abraham.

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It is just like God to have me study a passage in His Word that certainly applies to the situation that I am in at this time, and it surely could be said that I am being disciplined by the Lord at this time of my life because of the investments I am involved in.  I will quote a portion from a verse note from the “Life Application Bible” that comes from verses 5-11 in Hebrews 12:  “Who loves his child more—the father who allows the child to do what will harm him, or the one who corrects, trains, and even punishes the child to help him learn what is right?  It’s never pleasant to be corrected and disciplined by God, but his discipline is a sign of his deep love for us.  When God corrects you, se it as proof of his love, and ask him what he is trying to teach you.”

 

The Word of God was challenging to me as well as convicting to my heart as I studied it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I certainly want to believe the truth of this section of Hebrews and I certainly want to learn what it is that God wants me to learn for my investment discipline so that I do not have to take the course over again.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 121:1,2

 

1.      I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From whence shall my help come from?

2.      My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.