Hans Sangtoki Bible Reading: Hebrews 12:3-17
“For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:10-11)
One of the hardest things in Christian life is to get up again after you have fallen. When we sin, again and again, it is easy just to want to give up. To be disciplined by God is a very hard thing to endure. As we read God’s Word, He will work to uncover all our hidden sins, our failures, our weaknesses. It’s uncomfortable, and a lot of the time, we think there is no way we could ever change in those areas.
Although discipline is hard to endure, we must remember that those who are disciplined are called children. A loving father will discipline, rebuke and correct his child even if temporarily it will hurt the child. The father knows that discipline will be highly beneficial for the well-being of his child in the long run.
Likewise, our heavenly Father disciplines those who are His true children. God’s discipline is always for our good. God longs to cleanse us and continually sanctify us so that we can become more like Him. God works through discipline to teach us the ways of holiness. Holiness pleases God, and he longs that our lives please Him more and more each day.
Discipline or rebuke for our sins can feel painful at times. The call to obey God’s word and change are hard, and sometimes we think we cannot endure. However, God promises that even though discipline might not feel pleasant at the moment, it will yield peaceful fruits of righteousness in us in the future. Often, we fail to understand God’s bigger picture. We are like children who refuse to drink bitter medicine even though medicine can make us better. We do not understand the beauty and glory of what God is working towards. We do not understand the joy and peace awaiting the end of our race.
And so, in prayer and reliance on God, let us humbly turn to obey God where He rebukes us. See to it that we might be healed and made holy each day. Let us take obedience seriously. The strength does not come from ourselves; it comes from God. In community, let us encourage one another to humbly receive the grace of discipline and let us watch God who is mightily at work to change us more like Christ each day.
Lord, thank You that You discipline Your children. Please help us to obey You. Forgive our sins and remember us in the perfect sacrifice of Your Son. Thank You that in all the discipline, You are making us more like You each day. Help us to strive in holiness and teach us to follow You each day. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Hans Sangtoki (18) is the coordinator of RE Generation Z. He has a passion for serving his generation and sharing hope in Christ. He also has an interest in classical music and dreams of conducting an orchestra one day.