Hebrews & Holy Discipline

Let us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him. For our evil consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22)

Jesus guarantees our accesses to God the Father. He intercedes for us so we can boldly come to the Father with our needs. When we are weak, we can come confidently to God for forgiveness and ask for his help.

And have you forgotten entirely the encouraging words God spoke to you, his children? He said,
My child, don’t ignore it when the Lord disciplines you,
And don’t be discouraged when he corrects you.
For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
And he punishes those he accepts as his children.  (Hebrews 12:5-6)

My child, don’t ignore it when the LORD disciplines you, and don’t be discouraged when he corrects you. For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. (Proverbs 3:11-12)

Discipline means “to teach and to train.” Discipline sounds negative to many of us because some disciplinarians are not loving. God, however, is the source of all love. He doesn’t punish us because he enjoys inflicting pain but because he is deeply concerned about our development. He knows that in order to become morally strong and good, we must learn the difference between right and wrong. His loving discipline enables us to do that.

It’s difficult to know when God has been disciplining us until we look back on the situation later. Not every calamity comes directly from God, of course. But if we rebel against God and refuse to repent when God has identified some sin in our life, he may use guilt, crises, or bad experiences to bring us back to him. Sometimes, however, difficult times come even when there is no flagrant sin in our life. Then our response should be patience, integrity, and confident that God will show us what to do.

I am the one who corrects and disciplines everyone I love. Be diligent and turn from your indifference. (Revelation 3:19)

God would discipline this lukewarm church (Laodicea) unless it turned from its indifference toward him. God’s purpose in discipline is not to punish but to bring people back to him. Are you lukewarm in your devotion to God? God may discipline you to help you out of your uncaring attitude, but he uses only loving discipline. You can avoid God’s discipline by drawing near to him again through confession, service, worship, and studying his Word. Just as the spark of love can be rekindled in marriage, so can the Holy Spirit reignite our zeal when we allow him to work in our heart.