Hebrews 12:1-18
If there’s one truth that we can probably all agree on in this life, it’s that none of us likes to be on the receiving end of disciplinary action. Whether it was back when we were kids, getting sent to the Principal’s Office then facing the wrath of mom and dad or something more recent like a write up at work over some performance issue, being rebuked is at times humiliating, discouraging and never enjoyable.
Many of us have been led to One Step because we’ve received the eye-opening discipline that comes to us direct from God. We’ve been living a life in the shadow of sin, thinking that we’re so smart and getting way with everything that we’re doing when suddenly God reveals us in our sin. Suddenly we’re not the smartest person in the room anymore and now there are some big-time decisions that need to be made regarding how we either move forward or remain mired in the mud of our transgressions.
The New Testament Book of Hebrews is interesting for a number of reasons. One, we don’t know for sure who wrote it. There are lots of theories that run the gamut from Peter to Paul but the text itself doesn’t tell us. Which means by the way that we shouldn’t spend all that much time worrying about it. Hebrews is also unique because it sticks to one central theme, the importance of maintaining an abiding faith in Jesus Christ.
So why is that such a big deal? Well, there are two reasons. The first has to do with how faith can help us to see God’s discipline as proof that He loves us. Hebrews 12:5-6 cites a verse form Proverbs that reads, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when He corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child.”
Good, sound, earthly fathers walk out this trait. They discipline their children – who they love – whenever they see that they have messed up. And appropriate punishments may follow. God, our Heavenly Father will do the same. When we’re surrendered to sin, in time our life will go off the rails somehow, someway. With Jesus as our Savior though, there’s now a big caveat attached to this image of God “punishing each one as His child.” Through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, there is no longer a punishment per se attached to our sin. Instead there’s the second key point presented to us in the Book of Hebrews. It is this.
Hebrews 4:15-16 states that, “This High Priest of ours – Jesus – understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same temptations we do, yet He did not sin. So, let us come boldly to the throne of gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
This is probably one of the most important facts relating to Jesus’ nature to be found in the entire Bible. Because we know Jesus and place our faith in Him, we receive His discipline as a demonstration of His love for us. From that understanding, we are now able to, without fear, stand before His throne of grace and be reminded that by His precious blood we’ve already been forgiven for our shortcomings. We confess to knowing that Jesus alone is the One who sets us free from sin and then we simply ask Him to help us stay on a path to repentance. A path that leads us away from sin and closer to Him. And best news of all, as many times as we need to go before that throne of grace, that’s how many times Jesus will be willing to remind us that we are forgiven.
Experiencing discipline from God is never fun. It can be downright humbling. But as it reveals us in our disobedience, it also draws us closer to a Savior who loves us. Faith is the key. Through fellowship with other Christian believers, time each day reading God’s Word and a daily, prioritized time of prayer your faith can be, as it says here in scripture, initiated and perfected by Jesus Himself.
He loves you and me just that much.