Hebrews 12:4-11
4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.5 And have you completely forgotten this word of
4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.5 And have you completely forgotten this word of
encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens
everyone he accepts as his son.” 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.
For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 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.
Reflection
Our second trait of a church that lives heart first is that the church has a larger capacity to receive godly correction. How does God correct us individually and how does God correct the church? How do you feel about yielding to God’s discipline? Does the thought of this scare you? Be honest.
