The blessing of God’s discipline…
The writer of Hebrews continued to challenge the Hebrew believers about discipline – “Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them. Shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our benefit, so that we may share His holiness. And all discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful, but to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Therefore, STRENGTHEN THE HANDS THAT ARE WEAK AND THE KNEES THAT ARE FEEBLE, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.” (Hebrews 12: 9-13)
It says in Psalm 119: 165 – “Those who love Your law have much peace, and nothing causes them to stumble.” The writer of Hebrews had previously told them – “…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12: 1b-2) They had not suffered to the point of shedding their blood for their faith in Christ.
They were being encouraged to follow the following counsel found in Proverbs – “Let your eyes look directly ahead and even let your eyelids be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the track of your feet and all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; turn your foot from evil.” (Proverbs 4: 25-27)
The Christian life is not a life of ease. The sanctification process can at times be brutal. Isaiah with words of comfort to the Hebrews of his day encouraged them to look forward to the millennial return of Christ and what would one day take place – “Strengthen limp hands, and give courage to the knees of the stumbling. Say to those with an anxious heart, ‘be strong, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; the recompense of God will come, but He will save you.’ Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness and streams in the Arabah.” (Isaiah 35: 3-6)
Paul wrote the following words in his first letter to Timothy – “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by the hypocrisy of liars, who have been seared in their own conscience, who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God created to be shared in with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. In pointing out these things to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. But refuse godless myths fit only for old women. On the other hand, train yourself for the purpose of godliness, for bodily training is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy saying and deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.” (1 Timothy 4: 1-10)
The writer of Hebrews had told the doubting and troubled Hebrew believers about the heroes of the faith, especially about how many of them suffered for their faith. It is obvious he wanted them to realize that this reality would be no different for them. He wanted them to remember Jesus and how He had endured such hostility by sinners. We need to be reminded that as Christian believers in 2025, this is not our home, we are in spiritually hostile surroundings. This current fallen world is still under Satan’s control, but He who is in us is greater than he who is in this world. Jesus is going to return to reign on earth. We should not grow ‘faint in heart,’ but keep our eyes focused on Jesus and how He has already won the battle!
