Discipline by a Hairbrush

Hebrews 12-Part 2
You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding of blood, in your striving against sin; and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives." It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
Hebrews 12:4-7 NAS


LET IT GLOW

The minute their father drove out of the driveway, my two sweet, young children started their fighting with each other again. Dad was going to be gone a few days to a Bible conference, so I was determined to not have to put up with that mess the whole time he was gone. My hairbrush applied to the seat of both children got the point across. It was worth breaking my hairbrush in order to have peace in the house the rest of the time their father was absent. (I'm not sure if it was the shock of Mom doing it or the pain of it, whichever, it was quite effective.)

Disciplining our children was not an enjoyable thing to do, yet it was needful so they would learn to do right and to obey. So it is as a child of God-His discipline is not enjoyable, but needful in my life.
Our scriptures touch on it today.

Verse 4 in the NIV says, In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

In comparison to those Heroes of Faith we read about in chapter 11, my struggles and challenges are just the size of a splinter in my finger. Some of those faithful followers, plus Jesus, actually did shed their blood, gave their life, because of the cause-faith in Jesus.

Jesus does not ask more of us than what He has Himself experienced, and that He knows exactly what we are going through keeps us from becoming weary and discouraged in your souls. God can never be the author of evil. He can use the evil choice another makes to work out His ultimately good purpose. He allows difficult times so we can comfort others with the same comfort God shows toward us in our crisis (1 Cor. 1:3-7). ( David Guzik)

Why was there discouragement in the readers' time of difficulty? They forgot. They forgot that because God loves us, so He disciplines us, corrects us, and chastens us.
Those enduring men and women of faith had lived with confidence through times of crisis and suffering; they all confidently endured God's discipline. These forerunners say to us, "Keep on!" (Swindoll)

The Greek term for striving is our word antagonism; it refers to suffering brought about by external persecution; sinful things done against believers in order to terrorize them into abandoning the faith. Isn't it better for God to discipline us than man to annihilate us? Discipline is better than death.

Discipline proves the Father's love. God cares enough about us to discipline us, and them. Now that's good news if I ever heard any. How do I react to His discipline? Do I take it lightly, cave in, overreact, turn away, deny the need, or learn from it, change, and grow stronger faith and obedience?



LET IT GROW

Chastening is the word which the  King James Version uses for discipline; (in Greek is paidein) it means disciplinary correction, instruction.

Warren Wiersbe, in his book, Be Confident, says there are three proofs that chastening comes from the Father's heart of love:

1. The Scriptures (verses 5-6) The writer quotes Proverbs 3:11-12. We are adult, adopted children in need of discipline and guidance. ( Because of God's love, He corrects me and gets me back on the right path.)
2. Personal experience (verses 7-11) Just as our earthly parents disciplined us so we would obey, respect them,  and do what was right, so does our heavenly Father. It proves we are His child. 
3. The blessed results (verses 11-13) No chastening is pleasant at the time, but the benefits are profitable. Instead of continuing in sin or rebellion, we should repent and turn our life over to Christ.

Charles Swindoll, in his Bible study guide, Hebrews II, gives us four principles that help amidst hurt:

1. Discipline assures us of sonship.  (verses 7-8) God's curriculum for us is associated with suffering and discipline. We run with endurance because it is part of God's disciplining plan.  no discipline=no sonship
2. Discipline deepens and enhances life. (verse 9) We're in the classroom of learning-loss of job, loss of child, disease, etc. It's a required course all of our lives. We stop fighting God and our existance becomes living.
3. Discipline continues for our benefit. (verse 10) Earthly fathers do what they believe best, even though they are fallible, occasionally unfait, inconsistent, and even extreme.
4. Discipline, though initially painful, is ultimately valuable. (verse 11) Peaceful fruit of righteousness and partakers of holiness is the ultimate result of discipline meant to be ours. It's not joyful, but sorrowful and painful. Would we not want it?

What will it be, Linda? I wonder if God is asking me that question.
What will it take for me to submit to God?
 Do I learn from His discipline?

LET IT GO

What do I need to let go of so I will completely follow Jesus?

Welcome the disciplining hand or rod of God.

Draw closer to Him because of it.

Produce fruit of righteousness and holiness.

Be willing to change for His glory.