What is Showing?

Hebrews 13-Part 1
Let brotherly love continue. Hebrews 13:1


LET IT GLOW

Because I wear longer skirts and dresses, some are down to my ankles, I bought new longer slips to wear with them. However, I did hem up a few outfits to my calves. The problem I had was that I forgot this longer slip I wore one Sunday morning was longer than a shortened jumper, so it was evident, showing below my jumper hem. I realized this when I sat down, seeing my longer slip. How could I solve this problem and at church, mind you? I went into the restroom and did some tucking in from above, if you know where I'm talking about. It was a temporary solution. Now I remember to wear the shorter slip with that jumper. Well gals, just as my slip was showing (though not desired),
 I do want my faith to be showing. Are there any evidences of faith in my life as I walk by faith and not by sight? What is showing as the Lord looks upon me? I found some suggestions to help me here in chapter 13.

Chapter 13 can be described as essential practical ethics of Christian living. They portray the true gospel to the world, encourage others to believe in Christ, and bring glory to God. (MacArthur)

As Christians, we are to show our faith by:

  1. Keep on loving each other as brothers.

• The basis for this fellowship is brotherly love. (verse 1) The deepest kind of fellowship is not based on race or family relationship; it is based on the spiritual life we have in Christ. A church fellowship basesd on anything other than love for Christ and for one another simply will not last. (Rom. 12:10, 1 Peter 1:22)
• Love used in verse 1 is the word Philidelphia in the Greek. It refers to the love which Christians cherish for each other as "brethren." (Thayer's Concordance) "It speaks of brotherly friendship and affection; the love of deep friendship and partnership; from the root word philia. (Guzik)

  2. Do not forget to entertain strangers. (Some have entertained angels without knowing it.)

• Where there is true Christian love, there will also be hospitality. (verse 2) Traveling ministers and poor saints needed a place to stay, so since the churches met in homes, it was natural for a visitor to stay with his host. Pastors and all saints should be "given to hospitality."(Rom. 12:1) We are to show compassion to people we do not know, strangers (wanderers, refugees, froeigners, nonacquaintance). (Swindoll)

 3. Remember those in prison, as if you were their fellow prisoners.

• Love also expresses itself in concern. (verse 3) Early Christians were arrested and imprisoned for their faith, so they needed ministering. We should pray for those around the world that suffer for their faith.

 4. Remember those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

• "This reference to prisoners includes the Christians of the time who were undergoing persecution, beatings, bruising, and rejection because of their faith in Jesus Christ," states Charles Swindoll. Falwell said it like this, "Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them."

Is my faith showing by me doing these things?


LET IT GROW

5. Let marriage be held in  honor.

• The home is the first place where Christian love should be practiced. (verse 4)
•  Purity and loyalty in the marriage honors the Lord. (Eph. 5:3-6) Set our standards high; keep our marriage vows, whether we ar veterans or rookies. God originated it and set its rules.

6. Let the marriage bed be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

• Adulterers, fornicators, homosexuals, and sexually immoral will be judged.
• Undefiled means "free from contamination." Something contaminated is soiled, infected by contact or association, made unfit because of the introduction of unwholesome and undesirable elements.
• God does not demand of His people anything that is unreasonable or impossible. Strict and tough, yes, but not impossible. (1Cor. 6:16-18) Disgrace, shame, and guilt invade the heart. The mind is affected as with no other sin.
• God does forgive sin when asked. He gives strength to withstand temptations, when asked.
• It takes a commitment to one's mate and working through problems, to stay together so that the relaionship can grow. We must keep on renewing our commitments daily.

LET IT GO

Let my faith be evident.

Show brotherly love to other Christians.

Be hospitable.

Have concern for those who are suffering.

Keep my thoughts pure so I honor and love my spouse.

Honor God with my marriage.

1. 3.    

My World Shaken Up

Hebrews 12-Part 7
Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.    Hebrews 12:26

LET IT GLOW

Only a few months ago, we felt the after shock of the earthquake in Oklahoma, a five hour drive away. It was evening and my husband and I were watching television. All of a sudden, the floor and walls shook. I suggested it was an earthquake, but he was doubtful. We heard the next day that it was. It caused a helpless feeling inside of me as I just sat there, looking for things to fall into the floor. They didn't, of course. Since then, we have had other trimmers. It is an unusual thing to have earthquakes in our area of the state. Scripture tells us to expect it to happen. Our God will shake up things in our world.

God is shaking this world in which we live by earthquakes in diverse places. (Matt. 24:7 warns us.)
In verse 26, the author is quoting Haggai 2:6, where the Lord says He will not only shake earth, but heaven  again. It is referring to the time of Jesus' Second Coming.
When were there earthquakes?

• at the time of giving the Ten Commandments,
• when Jesus died on the cross,
• when Jesus rose from the dead.

He is shaking the economic systems of the world. He is shaking the very things men think are unshakable. He will shake the earth when Jesus' feet touch the Mt. of Olives.
There are some things which cannot be shaken:

• God's Throne
• God's Word
• God's Son
• God's Church
• God's Kingdom.

[Reference: Things Which Cannot Be Shaken, a sermon by Stan Coffey]

It is the things which are made, the physical things, that will be shaken. They will be removed. Those things that cannot be shaken will remain. (verse 27)
Is God shaking up things in your world? He is mine.


LET IT GROW

Verse 28 says, Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have greace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.

In Revelation 1:17b-18, Jesus said, Fear not; I am the first and the last; I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the key of hell and of death.

What are we exhorted to do?
*Let us have grace, (echomen charin in Greek), is translated better as "Let us be grateful."
An ingratitude lies at the very root of all sin and rebellion against God (Rom 1:21), so gratitude is the pulsating heartbeat of every positive response to the gospel. (Liberty Bible Commentary)
Grace, in Thayer's Concordance, as ussed in verse 28, means to be thankful to one.

*Serve God with reverence and godly fear, as well as love and gratitude.
We are encouaged to hold onto grace and thus be able to approach God and see Him fully revealed as awesome and consuming. We are prone to use grace as an excuse for not talking God seriously, for allowing our level of commitment to slide. Where do you fit into this scheme? How significant is God to you? If god suddenly and silently left the scene, how long wold it be before you missed Him in your life? Would you be aware that He was gone? (Swindoll)

I Thessalonians 4:18 says, In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Philippians 4:6 states, Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Am I continualy giving thanks, or is it only at mealtime? I have joined Ann Voskamp in having a Gratitude Journal in which I number things for which I am grateful. Will you join us? (She has a website for further assistance.)

LET IT GO

When my faith is shaken, hold onto Jesus.

Be ready for when He shakes up my world.

Give thanks for all things.

Thank God for His immovable and unshakable Kingdom.

Listen When He Speaks

Hebrews 12-Part 6
See that ye refuse not him that speaketh.    Hebrews 12:25a

LET IT GLOW
Some voices I recognize on the phone and the caller doesn't have to identify themselves. My dad's voice was one of them. Although it has been twenty-five years since I heard my dad speak, I would recognize it if he spoke today. One day my uncle recorded dad's voice on a cassette recorder, which he was trying to fix. Dad walked into his house during that process. It is a precious thing to me all these years later. How I miss his voice. So it is when I don't hear my heavenly father speaking to me. I miss His voice. (Do I listen when He speaks to me?) Our key verse gives us a warning. Shall we look further into it?

The New Living Translation says, Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven!
According to Strong's Concordance, speaketh (laleo in Greek) means to talk, speak, tell.
Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancrestors throught the prophets. and now in these fianl days, he has spoken to us through His Son. (Heb. 1:1-2a from NLT)
In the Experiencing God study by Henry and Richard Blackaby and Claude King, we learn these principles about God speaking:
1. God speaks to His people. In the Old Testament days He spoke in many different ways.
    He spoke through angels,visions, dreams, the use of the Urim and Thummim, symbolic actions, a
    gentle whisper, miraculous signs, and other ways.
2. That God spoke to people is far more important than how He spoke.
3. When God spoke, it was usually unique to that individual.
4. When God spoke, the person was sure it was God.
5. When God spoke, the person knew what God said.
6. When God spoke, that was an encounter with God.
7. If I do not have clear instructions from God in a matter, I will pray and wait. I will not try to
    bypass the love relationship.

The danger lies in refusing to hear the warning of Him who speaks from heaven; for if those at Mont sinai did not escape God's wrath, much more shall not we escape.One may escape God's warnings now, but God will not be escaped then. (Liberty Bible Commentary)

The Experiencing God has more to say to us:

• God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.
• When I come to God's Word, the Author Himself is present to instruct me. Truth is never discovered, truth is revealed.
• God reveals His purposes so you will know what He plans to do. (Amos 3:7)
• God reveals His ways to us because they are the only means to accomplish His purposes. ( Prov. 19:21)
• When the Spirit directs my attention to a truth, I write it down, meditate on it, and adjust my life to it. I alert myself to watch for ways God may be that way in my life during the day.
• What God says in prayer is far more important than what you say. (John 16:13)
• god wants me to know how to accomplish things only He can do. He wants me to know what He is about to do so I can join Him. He wants me to have faith to believe He can do what He says.
• Go to God and ask Him to show you His perspective on your circumstances. Jesus watched circumstances to know where the Father wanted to involve Him in His work. 
• Apart from the body(church) you cannot fully know God's will for relating to God's people. Jesus Christ is the head of a local church. He places every member in the body as it pleases Him. He makes us interdependent, needing each other. Every member needs to listen to what the other members say.

Am I listening?

LET IT GROW

Swindoll says, "Our tendency when approaching the mountain of grace is to change certain things because of the freedom we enjoy. When laws are set aside and rules are put away, we tend to write our own laws and make our own rules. That's why these verses appear as a final warning in this book. We're not to lower God's standards to human standards. Although His covenant may be new, His character remains the same. Grace does not alter our responsibility to be obedient.
To say that we are operating under new management in no way suggests that God no longer speaks with authority. God's word is nnow more intense: first, because a heavenly revelation is more emphatic than an earthly one; and second, the Sinai demonstration was limited, but Zion's is limitless. If His Word was to be obeyed back then, how  much more should it abe obeyed now?"
Remember, we are in the grace race. How significant is God to me? Can I tell that I am on the right road of the race?
God is not an error boy to have around; nor is He a pal, chum, or bully. He speaks from His throne, since His work of salvation is finished. His works speak to us presenting His blood, righteousnesss, and sacrifice.  We should not refuse whatever He is saying to us, make light of it, nor neglect it. We should hear it and do it.
In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Have a wonderful Easter dear friends! Let's praise and worship our Risen Savior in church this Sunday together throughout our nation and world.

He is Risen!

LET IT GO
Keep my ears open listening for God's voice; eyes open to see where He is working.
Don't refuse to listen to my heavenly Father speak to me; keep my heart open to Him.
Obey what He tells me to do.
Run the race of grace.
Share His love today.

Mountains

Hebrews 12-Part 5                 
For ye have not come unto the mount that might be touched...
but ye are come unto  mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels...
Hebrews 12:18a, 22

LET IT GLOW

One summer our family drove out to Glorietta, a family camp near Sante Fe, New Mexico. It was such a beautiful place, up in the pine mountains. We took some time away from meetings, just the four of us, and visited some Indian ruins. It was located on the mountain peaks, where one could see forever, mountains upon mountains in every direction. The wind blew strongly up there that day. I recall it because there was an eagle soaring in the wind, high above everything. As I stood taking in the scenery, I felt Jesus there, showing me that I could soar with Him above any problem that the wind blows my way. Eventually, we left, and came down from the mountains, but the image is still there in my mind. When I need refreshing, I can go there.
Like the song that Cynthia Clawson used to sing, "You've got to come down from the mountain top, to the people in the valley below, or they'll never know that they can go to the mountain of the Lord."

Our key verses mention two mountains,  Mt. Sinai in the wilderness and Mt. Zion where the city of Jerusalem is located. The reference is Exodus 19:10-25. God gave instructions for the Israelites to prepare for the third day, when they would meet the Living Lord.

How were they to prepare?
*Sanctify themselves.
*Wash their clothes.
*Abstain from sexual relations.
Do I prepare daily  to meet with the Lord in His sanctuary? Am I prepared to meet the Lord face to face in eternity?
David Guzik contrasted Mt. Sinai and Mt. Zion.
 Mt. Sinai:

• marked by fear and terror,
• spoke of earthly things,
• only Moses was allowed to draw near,
• characterized by guilty men in fear,
• Moses was the mediator,
• brings the Old covenant, reatified by animals' blood,
• was about the Law.

Mt. Zion:

• was a place of love and forgiveness,
• speaks of heavenly things,
• was where a general assembly was invited to draw near,
• features just men made perfect,
• has Jesus as the Mediator and Judge of all,
• brings a New covenant, ratified by the blood of God's precious Son,
• is all about grace.

Did the fear of the people promote holiness anmong the people of Israel? Forty days later they worshipped a golden calf, so their hearts were not changed. Only Jesus can change a heart.

LET IT GROW

To what have we come?  Verse 22 answers that question.
By having salvation and faith in Jesus Christ, upon death, we will come to:

• the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God,
• countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering around the throne of God,
• God, who is the judge of all people,
• an assembly of God's firstborn children, whose names are written in heaaven,
• Jesus, the one who mediates the New Covenant between God and people,
• the sprinkled blood of Jesus. which speaks forgiveness. (New Living Translation)

Abel's sacrifice was pleasing to God because it was offered in faith and obedience, but it had no atoning power. Jesus' blood alone was sufficient to cleanse sin (1John 1:7).  The sacrifice of Christ brought redemption, forgiveness, and compleete salvation, better than that of Abel. The blood of Abel's sacrifice only provided a temporary covering, but Christ's blood sacrifice decclares eternal forgiveness (Col. 1:20). (MacArthur)

Oh the blood of Jesus, it washes us whiter than snow. Thank You Lord Jesus that You became my blood sacrifice, took my place in paying for my sins. I am forever in debt to You.


LET IT GO

Meditate upon what Jesus has done for me.

Have a thankful heart.

Share with others.

Unwed Mothers

Hebrews 12-Part 4
For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. Hebrews 12:17


LET IT GLOW

I know several women who were unwed mothers as a teenager. Later, they regretted having done this sin, but still loved the child. Daily they faced the consequences of their sin, but it didn't change the situation. Esau's situation is similar. How?

In verse 16, there are words words used:  For fear of (lest) being like Esau, a fornicator (immoral), or a profane person (ungodly).

Profanity involves more than one's speech; it's the quality of one's life. Esau sold his birthright to his brother, Jacob, for a bowl of stew. To profane is to regard something as unhallowed, to make something sacred to be common. Every Christian must beware lest he count as unimportant what God considers sacred. (Falwell)

In his Bible study Guide on Hebrews II., Charles Swindoll says:

Esau came in from hunting and was hungry. His brother was cooking a savory stew. Esau embraced, and acted upon, the worldly mentality: buy whatever you need to satisfy yourself; sell whatever's necessary to find pleasure.
Worldliness is a mentality that discounts or denies Christ as Lord. It is a secular magnet that influences our minds, appeals to our emotions, and weakens our wills so that we live our lives without Christ as our Lord. the whole world system as we know it today lies in the power of Satan and his forces. Insstead of tolerating the Esau syndrome, run the race with endurance, fix our focus on Christ, meditate on Him, pursue peace with all people, be different, separaated and different, care about others running the race, show grace, don't let bitterness take root.

Which is my choice-worldliness or godliness?


LET IT GROW
Am I a  common person who lives for the world and not for God?  Esau despised his birthright and sold it to Jacob, and he missed the blessing because it was given to Jacob.

What sins will rob us of the enabling of God's grace? Lack of spiritual diligence, bitterness against othesr, sexual immorality, and living for the world and the flesh? God's grace doesn't fail, but we can fail to depend on God's grace.
Wiersbe says for us to take a look-look back at the bad example of Esau, look up for the glory of the heavenly city, and look ahead for an unshakable kingdom.
Where am I looking?

The result in Esau's life was that afterward, when he wanted that blessing of Abraham and God, he was rejected. He repented with tears, but the situation was irrevocable. (Falwell)

Esau desired God's blessings, but he did not want God. He regretted what he had done, but he did not repent. Esau is an example of those who willfullly sin against God and who are given no seond chance because of their exposure to the truth and their advanced state of hardness. (The MacArthur Bible Commentary)

At a later time, Esau realized how foolish he had been. with tears he tried to reverse the transaction. He found no place for repentance. The consesquences for imbibing worldly thinking were irreversible.
(Swindoll)

In the end, only God looks upon the heart. He knew whether Esau truly repented or was just sorry for the conquences of his sin. I leave that in His hands. However, sometimes people get so deep into their mudhole and pit of sin that they don't feel remorse, thus not repenting. On the other hand, some people do repent, but still suffer the conquences of their sin; some seeing it daily. That's when God's grace sees them through with His love.

Do I prefer the gratification of the flesh to the blessings of God? Do I resist the rod of God's discipline callingme to repentance? Do I have faults and follies that need correction by the Father? Does my faith find grace?

LET IT GO

Don't make something profane; keep sacred things sacred.

Watch my actions and words.

Avoid worldliness and cling to Jesus.

Step Around the Obstacles

Hebrews 12-Part 3
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Hebrews 12:12-13

LET IT GLOW

When I was a kid, I enjoyed walking over the forty acres on which I grew up. The hillside below the chicken houses was covered with white daisies in the springtime. So I would take the cows' path and go pick a bouquet . Now, I had to watch where I was stepping while I was on the cows' path because the cows would often leave a patty or two there. I certainly didn't want to take home anything on my shoes, much less the smell. I couldn't clear that path, but I could step around the obstacles on it. For some reason, the daisies are gone now, some fifty years later, but the cows still have a path there. (It's good to know some things don't change.)

Here we see an athelete who has weakened hands/arms and feeble knees. It depicts those who were too weak or weary to run with endurance the course which lay before them.

Are you weak and heavy hearted? Tell it to Jesus; He's a friend that's well known. You've no other, such a friend or brother, tell it to Jesus alone. What a song.

What am I to do when I get weak hands and feeble knees?
*If/when my hands are letting go, slipping, then tighten my grip, take a firm hold, strengthen my
  drooping hands, take a  new grip with my tired hands.
*If/when I feel weak in the knees, then stand firm, stiffen the stand of my knocking knees, strengthen
   my knees, strengthen my paralyzed knees.

[References: The New Living Translation, New International Version, Beck Translation, Williams Translation, N T in Modern Translation ]

Lift up (anorthoo in Greek), means to straighten up, as with the crippled woman who was healed (Luke 13:13) and once more stood erect.Some of the runners have become so weary that they have become stooped and need the spiritual strength to be straightened up again. The path must be simple for those who are weak. It is the weak one who is commanded to keep his path straight for his feet. He must keep the obstacles which would trip him up spiritually out of his path. (Falwell)

The Message says it this way, So don't sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet! Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it!

Can it get any plainer than this? Even when I am discouraged or disciplined by the Lord, I am to come to Jesus with my sins, troubles, situations, etc. Get on my hands and knees before the Lord and have a good heart-to-heart talk with Him. I have to clear my path first, then I can help others in their struggles and challenges of life.

David Guzik says, "Get strong, get right, get bold, and watch out."

Charles Swindoll tells the one being disciplined, "Don't fight, don't resist it, don't panic. We're all connected with one another in the Body of Christ. some members are in need and must have role models. These are the limbs that are about to be put out of joint. We each have a part of our own selves that is in need of exercising and healing."

Are my hands and knees sluggish, inactive in prayer? in hearing the Word? in holding fast to their profession? Are they weary and fatigued with weights and burdens of sins and affliction?


LET IT GROW

Do I have any obstacles on my path of life? Yes, some try to trip me into sin, some try to turn my ankle of faith, some are just stinky temptations wanting to stick to me. Jesus helps me overcome. He forgives me when I fail and sin.

If I don't  make my paths straight for my feet, what might happen? ( In Webster's Dictionary, lest means for fear that, to avoid.) I should do it:

• for fear that I become lame, crippled, disabled, dislocated, put out of joint, or to turn aside;(Christians can leave the teachings of the Word for the world, or legalism);
• to follow, persue, peace with all men;
• so I strive for holines because without holiness, I will not see the Lord;
• looking diligently, for fear of some not saved and fail to experience grace;
• for fear of any root of bitterness spring up to cause trouble and defile me;
• for fear of becoming a fornicator, sexually immoral person;
• for fear of that I become a profane person, who makes something sacred to be common.

LET IT GO

Strengthen my faith, holding tight to Jesus.

Stand firm for the Word of God.

Clear the path for my feet; walk in faith, holiness, truth, and the Word.

Get strong, right, bold, and watch out.

Clear the path for others so they don't stumble and fall, spiritually, and turn an ankle by turning away from God and His teachings.

God is at work; give Him the glory.

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.