July 11, 2023

Hebrews 12:1-13 (HCSB)
The Call to Endurance
12 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.
Fatherly Discipline
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won’t grow weary and lose heart. 4 In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.   5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly or faint when you are reproved by Him, 6 for the Lord disciplines the one He loves and punishes every son He receives. 7 Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline—which all receive]—then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had natural fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live?   10 For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but He does it for our benefit, so that we can share His holiness. 11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed instead.

Michael Jackson
It used to be that a surefire way to get me to rebel is to tell me I can’t do something. It would be done before you got back to wherever it was you came from. Obviously, this is not the best practice for anyone seeking a peaceful life, because there are always consequences for choosing to do things you probably wouldn’t if you didn’t have that rebellious streak in you.  We all have it. Some of us are just more prone to overuse it.  The good news is that I can tell you from experience you learn a lot from self-inflicted ignorance. You find out real quick if you’re a Christian, that God will correct you in your mistakes. I think churchy people call that discipline. It seems sometimes when we experience hard things in life, and even feel separated a bit from God, He might simply be allowing us to get into a position to see Him again and remember He is there. He’s always there, you know. And just like with our parents, He’s always gently correcting us to keep us on a path that leads to Him and to our own well being. If you’re real churchy, you can call it discipline. If you’re not real churchy you can just call it love. God’s love for you. Kinda like what a real good Father would do.