(For a sermon on Hebrews 12:1-2, click here.)
God Disciplines His Children
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. (Hebrews 12:6-7a)
When in a public place, I do not discipline all the unruly children, only those who are mine. If you trust and follow Jesus Christ as the one Savior and Lord, you are God’s child. And God disciplines his children.
If God does not Discipline You, You are not His Child
If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. (Hebrews 12:8)
Often church folks question their salvation. Here is one good question to confirm it: does God discipline you? When is the last time God reproved you? Chastised you? Corrected you?
Discipline Starts with Pain, Ends with Peace
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11)
Sometimes he lets the natural consequences of our sin inflict the pain. Sometimes he allows painful circumstances into our lives to expose our sin. Sometimes the Spirit inflicts painful conviction to make us notice our sin. However he goes about it, God’s discipline always hurts.
But it also always leads to peace. It isn’t hateful wrath, it’s loving training, pruning and cultivation. It leads to the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
God disciplines his children. If he doesn’t discipline you, you’re not his child. Discipline starts with pain, ends with peace.
