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Hebrews 12:5, 6 - The Lord Disciplines The One He Loves.

Hebrews 12:5, 6 (NIV) "My son, do not make 
light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose 
heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord 
disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he 
accepts as a son."  

COMMENTARY PEARL

Tough Love
   It's a fundamental truth, not a throwaway 
cliche, that God loves you too much to leave you as 
you are. He will therefore work in your life and 
in your heart to make you more like Christ. 
   Don't misunderstand God's discipline in 
your life. It is not spiritual warfare and an 
attack from the enemy. It is not a sign that God 
does not love you or has abandoned you. It is 
instead an indication that God loves you deeply and 
is determined that you experience His very 
best. 
   The word chastening reflects this truth. 
The Greek means "correction, discipline, 
training, and nurturing, with the goal of improving 
one's character." Just as our human parents 
corrected us because they loved us, our heavenly 
Father will reprove and discipline us because He 
loves us. When He sees us straying from His path, 
He will not sit by idly and watch. When He sees 
us falling into sin, He will not ignore it. 
When He sees us getting lazy in our devotion, He 
will allow us to suffer the consequences. He will 
love us with persistent and transforming love. 
That's what a loving Parent does. He will bring to 
bear on our lives whatever is needed so our lives 
become like Christ's and bring honor to Him. [Being 
Still With God Every Day by Henry Blackaby] 

A Mark of Gods Love
   Have you ever wondered what the phrase 
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me 
means? Lets remember what David said a few 
verses earlier: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall 
not want (Psalm 23:1 NKJV). 
   David, a shepherd himself, would have 
carried two very critical tools: A rod and a staff. 
A staff was basically a long instrument with a 
crook on the end to pull a wayward sheep back into 
line. But then there was the rod, which is 
self-explanatory. 
   The shepherd would use the rod to defend 
his sheep against predators. But he might also 
have to use it to get a wayward sheeps 
attention. One quick whack, and the sheep paid 
attention. 
   Were just like those sheep. The Lord 
is our Shepherd, and sometimes He tells us not 
to do something. But we do it anyway. So He 
says, Dont do that. And we keep doing it. 
Then God essentially says, Dont make me use 
this. Yet we continue to disobey. 
   Whack! Now the Lord has our attention. 
Its hard for us to believe that God would allow 
a hardship in our lives because He loves us. 
It seems that He would want to protect His 
children from all difficulties. 
   But remember, the Lord wants us to mature 
in our faith. And one of the marks of Gods 
love for us is discipline, because the Bible says 
that God disciplines the one that He loves (see 
Hebrews 12:6). 
   Just as a shepherd takes care of his 
sheep, the Lord takes care of us. And when God 
disciplines us, its an indication that we are His 
children. 
   That discipline might be something that 
seems like the worst-case scenario at the time. 
But ultimately, it can be the very thing that 
actually brings us to our senses. [Greg Laurie from 
Harvest Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com] 

COMMENTARY ILLUSTRATION

Because the Lord disciplines the one he 
loves Hebrews 12:6 (NLV) 
   My pandemic year as a non-career high 
school teacher vividly reminded me: Boundaries are 
loving, not punitive, selfish, or mean. 
   I was hired to teach English during the 
historic 2020-2021 school year. After months of 
isolation, a string of teachers, COVID-19 stress, and 
related drama, the students were confused, scared, 
and acting out a lot. Many were facing problems 
at home too. 
   An enthusiastic novice teacher, I 
resolved to be firm, patient, and loving. I did 
really well being loving and patient. I want to say 
firm, too, but that's not true. With misguided 
compassion, I gave the kids too much latitude. I was 
endlessly patient with disruptive behavior. I didn't 
strictly enforce homework deadlines. I gave out candy 
just because. Halfway through the term, I had a 
bunch of failing students and my most challenging 
classes were extremely unruly. Plus, I was burned 
out and resentful. I had no one to blame but 
myself. 
   As I prayed to Jesus each day, it became 
clear I needed tougher boundaries. I intuitively 
knew this, but my people-pleaser self resisted. 
Still, it had to be done. I got stricter, 
dispensing consequences promptly. I dropped rewards 
unless they were merited. I raised the bar. Almost 
overnight, the kids fell in line. Their grades 
improved. The classroom was more peaceful and orderly. 
The kids were more respectful with each other 
and with me. I was happier too. 
   Indeed, clear boundaries and wise 
discipline were needed not just for my students but for 
me too. With Jesus's help, we all made it 
through the COVID-19 school year. Isabella 
Campolattaro 
   Faith Step: Are you feeling resentful, 
frustrated or abused? Ask Jesus if a boundary is 
needed. [Mornings With Jesus 2023 Devotional by 
Guideposts and Zondervan] 

CLOSING THOUGHT

Doing Things We Never Thought Possible
   No discipline is enjoyable while it is 
happening - it's painful! But afterward there will be 
a peaceful harvest of right living for those 
who are trained in this way. Hebrews 12:11 NLT 
   At first, discipline comes with pain. Our 
muscles are sore when we start a new activity or 
raise the challenge to a new level. We're tired. 
We may even experience cravings for our old 
ways of eating or living as change takes us into 
unfamiliar territory. 
   Over time, though, the discipline becomes 
a habit. We become accustomed to movement and 
the slight soreness of exercised muscles. It's a 
good feeling to increase the weight or the 
duration as our strength builds. We feel a sense of 
accomplishment. The cravings soon fade away. The unfamiliar 
becomes familiar and we feel peaceful because we 
know we're living well. 
   So when the discipline is painful, we can 
keep going if we fix our eyes on the peaceful 
harvest ahead. God will be with us in the process, 
helping us to do what we never thought possible. 
   Fix your eyes on the peaceful harvest 
ahead that comes with diligent training. [The 
Daniel Plan 365-Day Devotional] 

LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY 

Hebrews 12:5, 6 - Purpose of Discipline.

https://www.abible.com/devotions/2008/20081215-0847.html 

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

https://abible.com/links/