Today’s Podcast
Today’s Scriptures
Today’s Bible reading plans include:
Ready – Hebrews 12:1-13
Set – Hebrews 12-13
Go! – Hebrews 12-13; Jude
Hebrews 12:1-13
1 So since we stand surrounded by all those who have gone before, an enormous cloud of witnesses, let us drop every extra weight, every sin that clings to us and slackens our pace, and let us run with endurance the long race set before us.
2 Now stay focused on Jesus, who designed and perfected our faith. He endured the cross and ignored the shame of that death because He focused on the joy that was set before Him; and now He is seated beside God on the throne, a place of honor.
3 Consider the life of the One who endured such personal attacks and hostility from sinners so that you will not grow weary or lose heart. 4 Among you, in your striving against sin, none has resisted the pressure to the point of death, as He did.
5 Indeed, you seem to have forgotten the proverb directed to you as children:
My child, do not ignore the instruction that comes from the Lord,
or lose heart when He steps in to correct you;
6 For the Lord disciplines those He loves,
and He corrects each one He takes as His own.
7 Endure hardship as God’s discipline and rejoice that He is treating you as His children, for what child doesn’t experience discipline from a parent? 8 But if you are not experiencing the correction that all true children receive, then it may be that you are not His children after all. 9 Remember, when our human parents disciplined us, we respected them. If that was true, shouldn’t we respect and live under the correction of the Father of all spirits even more? 10 Our parents corrected us for a time as seemed good to them, but God only corrects us to our good so that we may share in His holiness.
11 When punishment is happening, it never seems pleasant, only painful. Later, though, it yields the peaceful fruit called righteousness to everyone who has been trained by it. 12 So lift up your hands that are dangling and brace your weakened knees. 13 Make straight paths for your feet so that what is lame in you won’t be put out of joint, but will heal.
Today’s Devotional
From today’s background scripture God might say:
The writer uses several metaphors to help you understand the role of suffering in the world. Do I like to watch you suffer? No. But My Son used the suffering He received as discipline just as I want you to use it. Was the suffering His fault? No. Did I cause it? Not all of it. Some I gave to help His human nature stay within the boundaries I set for all of humankind. I want you to keep control of the base desires and instincts that Satan corrupts and uses for evil.
As the Son of Man, Jesus felt all those same temptations you feel to yield to quick and unholy gratification of those desires. But the discipline I taught Him from an early age through His parents, His rabbis, My word, and My Spirit helped Him keep from falling to the temptations Satan set before Him. Some of that discipline was painful emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Discipline is not always easy or pleasant, but necessary for growth. So even the Son of Man required discipline to withstand the temptations He would face later in His life as He faced the cross.
So if I disciplined My Son so He could face the cross when the time came when He was born free from the inbred nature of sin that the rest of humanity inherits through Adam, can you begin to understand the importance of discipline in your life? Do I want you to suffer? Do I want you to undergo discipline so you can stand under the temptations that will come your way on your journey through life? Absolutely. Will some of that discipline cause pain spiritually, emotionally, and physically? Probably.
When suffering comes, though, think of it as a means to the end. Think of it as a part of the discipline process to make you able to stand just as I discipline My Son so that He could stand. The suffering may not come from Me. It may come as a result of the good you do for others. Remember I promised you would have trouble in this world. But if you look at all suffering as discipline and not try to figure out which is which, you will be less likely to try to seek revenge. You will be more likely to forgive wrongs if you see all suffering as discipline from Me. You will find more grace from Me as you struggle through the difficult circumstance of life.
Do I enjoy disciplining My children? No more than you enjoy disciplining your children. But it is necessary to help them mature and become effective citizens later. I want you to be effective citizens in My kingdom, so expect Me to discipline you. It’s important.
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