Share In His Holiness
For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but our Heavenly Father does it for our benefit, so that we can share His holiness. No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Heb 12:11-12)
We cringe at the thought of being disciplined.
Discipline is the practice of training people or regulating behavior. It may include punishment for undesirable behavior but the emphasis is on training to mold character to produce desirable behavior.
Saints of old have undergone the discipline of the Lord.
Hebrews 11 recounts stories of Noah, Abraham, Moses, and others who endured hardship, persecution, suffering, battles, injustice, poverty.
Yet they were found faithful in the Lord.
The greatest example is Jesus Himself, who endured the cross. He saw the joy of the Father and deemed it much greater than the cross.
He trusted in His Heavenly Father to know what He is doing to Him.
What sort of discipline are you going through now?
Can it be compared with what the saints went through?
Can it be compared with what Jesus went through for you?
It is a good thing to be disciplined (trained) by the Lord.
It shows that He has not given up on us. He still loves us as our Heavenly Father.
He is wise and knows how best to train us for our good.
He disciplines us so that we can grow in holiness and be like Him.
Submit yourself to Him today and let Him discipline you.
(MT)