Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Hebrews 12
Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”
(Hebrews 12:3-6 ESV)
So I read this chapter in the morning and this was one of the passages that stood out to me due to its sacrificial and disciplinary focus, but I did not get a chance to write my post until I got home tonight and reading back through it, I saw such an incredible picture of selfless, loving sacrifice. I had just finished a pretty long day that had drained me pretty good and still had more work to do tonight, but reading this made me realize no matter how much I know about the passion and sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross, it is a completely different thing to really internalize that and reflect on it daily. The suffering that he unjustly deserved on my behalf is indescribable, and I can't let myself lose sight of that and get wrapped up in me. It is all too easy to let my problems and my struggles with sin overshadow the bigger picture here. Christ conquered sin and death so that we are no longer slaves to sin but alive in Christ. We can cast off the burdens of this world and put our trust in him, and he will provide. There will be pain and sorrow, but take heart for he has overcome the world.
There is also a great point to be made here about discipline and the role it plays especially in tearing down our pride that I think we also need to reflect on as it is not an easy one to grasp.
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"Endure your trials as 'discipline'; God treats you as sons. For what 'son' is there whom his father does not discipline?"
ReplyDeleteHebrews 12:7
We are children of God. With that title comes the love and care of God as our father, but also the discipline and structure that comes from the father. I don't believe that any godly human father would watch his son go astray and not discipline him and keep him focused. Likewise, I do not believe that a father would watch his son do wrong and not penalize him as to know right from wrong.
This verse provides me with relief that God is there and constantly aware of our every decision. He is proud when we struggle and persevere, he is disappointed when we sin, but he always does everything in love. He is a loving and just God and will do what is best for us to protect us and guide us.
There is a lot to unpack in this chapter. Verses 4 through 17 focus on the need for discipline, which leads to holiness. In today's society, we are more averse to discipline than ever. There is a prevailing thought that we should avoid pain and "hardship" as much as possible, seeking pleasure, success, and the good life. This chapter specifically calls us to embrace hardship though. Most of us are in a blessed enough financial situation that we don't have to put up with too much hardship, but there are other areas in our life where it occurs. Whether it be too much work expected of us, taxing living situations, or emotional hardship, it is there. Let us be challenged by this chapter to embrace that experience when it comes, allowing it to be instructive for our faith and our pursuit of holiness. For we should "make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord" (v. 14). Holiness will show forth in our lives. It gives power to our witness and opens the door to opportunities. I need to be more focused on holiness in my life, that I/we may be set apart for the Lord, in the world but not of it.
ReplyDeleteBesides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
ReplyDelete(Hebrews 12:9 ESV)
I love how the author of this book so easily points out the double standard that we use when it comes to discipline. We respect our fathers because of it, but we despise God because of it? I think the fundamental differences between the two disciplines are that our fathers stop disciplining us when we get to a certain age or maturity and that their form of discipline is different. When we get to that age we start to form a mature image of ourselves in our heads and think that we don't need discipline anymore. This pride leads to us despising and despairing when God disciplines us. The hardships that he uses to discipline us with (Tomas did a great job describing these) are not even the same tactics that our earthly fathers used. Its amazing how God calls us to change when we think we do not need to. One of my biggest fears in life is that I will become so entrenched in who I am that I will not be able to change even when I am clearly wrong. I pray that God continues to discipline me and that I would be able to handle it in a way that honors and glorifies him.
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.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a powerful passage to me. I wish to have the heart of Paul that I can stare trouble and tribulation and discipline in the face, and not be scared or overwhelmed or ashamed, but that I can face it boldly, knowing that it will shape me and grow me and build me. Praise the Lord that he cares about us enough to discipline and rebuke us.