Our Daily Bread Friday 4/24

Our Daily Bread study will take us through Hebrews 12, Exodus 16-17 and Proverbs 7:6-27. We will be looking a little deeper into what it means when God disciplines us...

Hebrews 12

Exodus 16-17

Proverbs 7:6-27

Hebrews Commentary:

Heb 12:4-7
"In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
'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.'
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons."

Heb 12:11
"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

Discipline is never fun. Regardless of our knowledge that righteousness and peace will result from it, we would still like to avoid it. Especially when you are getting a heavenly slap on the hand by God. But take heart! God disciplines us because He knows what we could be...what we should be...and He is helping us get there. Like any loving father, God loves His children and does not want to harm us. Instead, God will discipline us to correct whatever sinful pattern or behavior we are choosing to partake in. Jeremiah 29:11 says:
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Most of us remember being disciplined by our parents when we were children. And most of us can agree, we respect our parents more because of it. Good parents will provide instruction for developing children into well-mannered, well-behaved individuals. When ill-mannered or defiant behavior is demonstrated, it is swiftly disciplined. It is a process that, in the end, not only yields productive citizens in society, but people (and children) that are a pleasure to be around.
The bottom line is our sinful behavior is a path to self-destruction. It will eventually catch up to us; we will eventually be punished. As Pastor Bil (from Bay Area Fellowship in Corpus Christi) says, "Someone is going to lay the smack down on your children...Why don't you do your children a favor and let it be you." That quote is loosely paraphrased by memory... however, I could not agree more. If discipline is not provided in the home... the bad behavior will rear its ugly head in school...and eventually on the job and out in society. The discipline will then come from their teacher, their principal, their boss and eventually the judge. And it all could have been prevented by nipping it in the bud at home.
Similarly, our Heavenly Father will see a sinful behavior leading us down a destructive path and will discipline us. In turn, it is our job to recognize and appreciate the discipline and correct our behavior accordingly. Lets remember what a privilege it is to be called "sons" by the Creator of the Universe. What a privilege it is that He cares enough about us to discipline us and develop us into people of character. As unpleasant as it may be... it is all for our spiritual good. :)