The Results of Discipline (Heb. 12:12-13)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 07-08-03

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  The results of discipline

 

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Hebrews 12:12,13

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “12 Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.”  (NASB)  “So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs.  Mark out a straight path for your feet.  Then those who follow you, though they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong.”  (NLT)

            In verse 11 the writer gives one of the results of discipline when he says that it will “afterward it will yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it,” or have exercised by it.  This is one of the results of discipline.  It also encourages us to exercise in spiritual matters like the Word of God, prayer, meditation and witnessing, etc, and this all leads to joy.

            How are we then to respond to the discipline of God?  “We may respond to discipline in several ways: (1) We can accept it with resignation; (2) we can accept it with self-pity, thinking we really don’t deserve it; (3) we can be angry and resentful toward God; or (4) we can accept it gratefully, as the appropriate response we owe a loving Father.”  Life Application Bible

            Now the writer uses the word “therefore” to start out the 12^th verse, which means it refers back to what we have been reading.  In light of all of these things he has been telling us in this chapter he encourages us to do these things he writes in 12 & 13.  The writer is like a coach who tells us to get into the race and to get it together and run the race of life and by doing this we will also be able to encourage others around us to do the same.

 

            2.  Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I am sure that it is true that there are others who are watching how I react to the storm that God is leading me through, and I do believe that part of this is truly discipline from the Lord for a number of things that I know that I have been doing wrong concerning my investments and the wrong attitude that I have had about money.  This may all be discipline, but whatever it is the Lord is lovingly getting my attention and I have confessed many different things that I have done wrong and am still asking the Lord to continue to search me in regard to this storm that He is leading me through.  I pray that I will be a good example as to how I handle this storm of discipline from the Lord so that others who see me will see the Lord in my life giving me the strength and the peace to deal with it.  God loves me too much to leave me the way I was.

 

The Word of God was indeed a challenge to my heart as I read it this morning.

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to trust the Lord to be true to His Word and search me, “23

 

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts;

24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 121:1-3

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

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

3.      He will not allow my foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.