Peter Howard
Hebrews (part 9): The Glorious Discipline of God
“…and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” Hebrews 12:1
Peter continues his series on Hebrews with a look at the first half of Chapter 12. It seems that this chapter of Hebrews is rarely preached upon as it is often an uncomfortable subject for Christians. A wise man once said in the book of Proverbs, “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline”. The author of Hebrews adds to this in the twelfth chapter where he paints a picture of Christ suffering for our sins and setting for us an example in endurance. Christ did not deserve to suffer upon the cross, rather it should have been us paying that penalty. But when we are chastened of God, it is to teach us, to shape us, and to refine us in order to produce “the peaceable fruit of righteousness” – the reward of God both here on earth and for eternity in heaven. We are God’s children and He, unlike our earthly parents, is perfect in all His actions, and rather than being afraid of His chastening, we should rejoice that God is shaping us not only to be citizens for His kingdom, but also to be witnesses for Him today, and to love and help our fellow travelers on this earth.