SONS OF GOD ENDURE DISCIPLINE - 14

In Hebrews 12:3 it tell us, "For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." When we are discouraged with persecution, difficulties, trials, bad health, loss of work, shortage of money, or even betrayed and forsaken by friends that we should consider what our Savior Jesus Christ had to endure. This helps us not to become wearied and faint in our minds. Verse 4 continues, "Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin."

Meriam Ibrahim in Sudan has been warned by the Islamic authorities that she will be put to death if she does not renounce Jesus Christ. We need to pray for her miraculous release and that she will remain strong. In comparison to this woman, most of us having nothing to complain about.

Verse 5 tells us that the trials we go through are a form of discipline to prove us in order to make mature sons. Even as we discipline our children in order to mature them, so God disciplines us in many different ways. Verse 5 encourages us "My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him."

How sad it is that in many of our churches we are not taught these principles. Instead, we are taught nursery rhymes and too many expect only happy times with lots of fun. This is not the way God sees it at all. He wants us to raise up valiant sons who can face anything the world, flesh, and devil may hurl at them.

Hebrews 12:6-8 says, "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons."

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell