I've seen a lot of
“punishment” in my life. God's punishment, I would say. Often
times, I feel like giving up and giving in to the temptation to quit.
Sadly, I have given up in the past. Things have gotten to be too
much for me, in my eyes. I started to believe that I was being
punished for doing something wrong, yet I couldn't figure out what
that was. I know I'm a sinner, every one falls short, but I just
didn't feel like I deserved that much punishment. Well in one short
sentence, I was wrong. I was wrong about everything. It was brought
to my attention that the bible speaks of discipline and reproof.
Proverbs 3:11-12
“11) My son, do
not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his
rebuke, 12)because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father
the son he delights in.”
Pow. Right in my
face, God disciplines those he loves. At first, I was reluctant to
put myself in the category of those that he loves, but I believe God
loves us all and struggling to stay on the right path is an action
that would be pleasing to him. At least, more pleasing than it would
be if I gave up.
In Hebrews, the
point is driven home in 12:11-12.
“11) No discipline
seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it
produces a harvest of great righteousness and peace for those who
have been trained by it. 12) Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms
and week knees.”
Not only am I to
realize that God disciplines those he loves, but to know that my
feeling of discomfort with the instructive situation is common enough
for the author to write about it in the book of Hebrews. To me it's
saying “You are going to feel bad during times of trial and
discipline, but know that it will bear a 'harvest of great
righteousness' in the future.” And, adding from proverbs, we can
say that we are not to despise or resent the trial that we are living
through because God disciplines those he loves as his children.
In verse 7 of the
same book and chapter, it's written that we are to
“7) endure
hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For
what children are not disciplined by their father?”
In Hebrews 12:10, it
is written that our earthly fathers disciplined us as they thought it
best, but God disciplines us so that we may share in his holiness.
And many verses
relay the same message. (i.e. Deuteronomy 8:5, Job 5:17) Not only do
we all fall short, we are all disciplined as children so that we may
see God's glory and have peace.
