Hello beloved of God,
Today, let’s go over the author of Hebrews’ reasoning on God’s disciplining of His children:
“All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”
— Hebrews 12:11
There are a number of things that we can learn from this short verse. Let’s look closer at this verse to learn from God’s discipline.
The Discipline Is Real
It is important, first of all, to be reminded that God is a loving God, and just like a loving father, He will discipline those whom He loves:
“Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?”
— Hebrews 12:9“Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.”
— Revelation 3:19
There is a false narrative in our Christian circles these days that when one becomes a believer, life becomes all joyful and without struggles. This kind of teaching sets a false expectation among believers, especially in times when God actually wants to discipline us.
We need to understand that God can sometimes discipline us so that we can learn and grow in our sanctification.
Another important thing to note is that while not every trial is necessarily God disciplining us, there are occasions where God’s discipline can definitely look like a trial. It is important for us to be able to discern this and continue to lean on God for sustenance through these seasons.
The Discipline Seems Sorrowful
The author of Hebrews hands down practical things that the readers should keep in mind, telling them that the experience of being disciplined is going to be unpleasant.
“Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
— Mark 14:38
Because of the weakness of the flesh, the scriptures tell us to consider the members of our body dead to sin. This is a change of heart and a renewing of the mind:
“Therefore, consider the members of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.”
— Colossians 3:5
“Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
— Romans 6:11
It is vital that we understand that when God disciplines us, it is not going to be a joyful or fun experience. Keeping this in mind will help us have resilience when we are going through the experience.
The Discipline Is Momentary
Despite the fact that disciplining can be sorrowful and without joy, it is also very important to be encouraged by the fact that this disciplining, regardless of however severe it can be, is only momentary. We should keep in mind that whatever we are being disciplined for, we are meant to go through it in a season, learn from it, and be built up to move on to the next season of life.
Sometimes, the challenging thing is having to experience this kind of disciplining from God longer than we think we ought to. In such times, it is important to put our faith and trust in God, knowing that He knows what is best for us. We need to trust that we will overcome this season in His time, when He knows that we are ready to face the next season.
“For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our benefit, so that we may share His holiness.”
— Hebrews 12:10
The previous verse makes this point more prominent, where the author says that this disciplining is only for a short time. It’s important to understand that this short time is determined by God Himself, and we must trust that He is faithful to take us to the next season when we are ready.
It Trains
The disciplining that we go through is not in vain. There is a purpose behind God’s disciplining us. First and foremost, it is for our benefit and for God’s glory. In the previous verse, the author says that the benefit we get from God’s disciplining us is that we share in His holiness.
“Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith brings about perseverance.”
— James 1:2-3
When God disciplines us, sometimes it might take the form of trials and tribulations in life. To this, James says that we need to consider it all joy because there is a purpose to us going through such times. When we go through these times, we come through the other end with faith that can persevere.
This is yet another encouragement that the believer can have, knowing that the disciplining that goes on is not just so that we can suffer. Rather, it is a strategic and calculated kind of disciplining that helps us be conformed further to the image of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The Discipline Yields Fruits
The author finishes this verse by saying that in the end, God’s disciplining us will lead to us yielding the fruit of righteousness.
“And not only this, but we also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not put to shame, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
— Romans 5:3-5
This is where we can see the fruit of righteousness. Having gone through this disciplining process, which might involve affliction and perseverance, we find ourselves reaping the fruit of righteousness. That is, enjoying our lives having been clothed in the righteousness of Christ.
The end of it all is that we should understand that God loves us and nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:31). It is with this confidence that we can face whatever disciplining comes our way, knowing full well that we can completely trust in God to take us through the process and refine us like gold.
“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
— 1 Peter 1:6-7
Let us remember these things as we go through various seasons of life:
- God disciplines us: This is because of His immense love for us and wanting us to partake in His holiness.
- There is a purpose to our disciplining: He is not a vicious God to punish us without cause; He cares for us and wants us to grow in our sanctification.
- Let us learn to accept the disciplining from God: Having understood the purpose behind God’s disciplining, it is important for us to accept and go through the process for His glory and our benefit.
I pray this word encourages you to take on every season as it comes by leaning on God for sustenance.
Blessings,
Paul
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