Last Saturday the cell group discussed the topic of discipline using Herbews 12:7-12 as the springboard. The Lord gave me this word to share to the guys just hours before and I really believe it was a "now" word. I see in the spirit that many young men and women in this generation dislike discipline -- they don't even like the concept of the word.
Of course being the older man that I am now [33, thank you!] I am in a position to say that discipline that comes from parents most of the time brings good results to one's life. More importantly, my physical age also puts me in the vantage point of seeing the inevitability and infallibility of the discipline that comes from the Heavenly Father.
Lately, the Lord is seemingly placing me in the position of rebuker-corrector-reprimander of the young men in our church. Believe me, this is something I didn't ask for and if I could, I would give these duties to the likes of our drummer Caloy (who can really hammer in the truths of the Kingdom like no one's business) or our youth pastor Nap (who commands more respect).
But you know, God, in His infinite wisdom, chooses the foolish things of this world to shame the wise; He chooses the weak things of this world to shame the strong; and, apparently, He also uses the former non-confrontational, former laid back ones to dispense heavens proverbial rods on the rear ends of the semi-straying sheep. Yes! God does uses the foolish. Haha!
In the course of the discussion, we saw in the passage that no one is really excempt from discipline -- everyone receives it. More importantly though, we also saw that God's discipline is actually a form of love, because He is treating us as sons and daughters.
Below is the passage from Hebrews [12:7-12] with some of the revelations and ideas the Lord gave me:
Endure hardship as discipline;
-- discipline comes in many forms but is always accompanied by hardship, because the flesh is always resisting it
God is treating you as sons.
-- scripture says God disciplines those He loves. His correction is always motivated by compassion
For what son is not disciplined by his father?
-- this, to me, is a rhetorical question. I believe that fathers are "correctional" by nature
If you are not disciplined
-- no order comes into your life; no boundaries are set; chaos ensues
(and everyone undergoes discipline),
-- like I said above, no one is excempt
then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
-- would a father care as much for an illegitimate child as much as he would his own flesh and blood?
Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us
-- and, as imperfect as they are, they have every right to rebuke us because they are reponsible and accountable for us
and we respected them for it.
-- if we have chosen to respond the right way. The quality of the life we live depends on the kind of choices we make. We can choose life or death; blessings or curses. Our response to discipline also determines how we grow and mature, how far we will reach in life and how fruitful we become in the spirit
How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!
-- and we know that He never fails, never does anything that will harm us, and always wants to bless us. Instead of running away from God when He rebukes us, we need to humble ourselves and sumbit to His loving correction, because in Him we live and move and have our being
Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best;
-- and even if they weren't perfect persons, their intentions -- which include seeing their children raised to be upstanding citizens and teaching them to stand on their own feet -- are noble
but God disciplines us for our good,
-- which is why we should always ask for God's grace to respond to discipline the Jesus way: in humility, obedience and submission. Because in the long run, we are the beneficiaries of said correction
that we may share in his holiness.
-- and why shouldn't we? He's a holy God after all and He requires us to be holy as well. Discipline helps us get there
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.
-- amen to that! But the trick is to see beyond the discomfort and the pain, and lift one's vision higher to the end result. We are more than now creatures; we were made for eternity, so having a forever mindset will set everything in perspective
Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace
-- and this is why it would be foolish to run away from hardship, challenges and testings: you'd miss out on the harvest; you'd miss out on your inheritance; you'd miss out the character development; you'd miss out ... A LOT!
for those who have been trained by it.
-- again, our response is crucial. If we see every trial and tribulation as a test of our fortitude, as an opportunity to grow and learn, and as a chance to see God move in our lives, our perspective towards discipline will totally be revolutionized
Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.
-- the whole point of discipline is this! To strengthen us, never to weaken us.
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