Tag: Parenting

victor freitas wvdydxdzkhs unsplash

The Fruit of Discipline- Hebrews 12:11

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

Highlight

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Hebrews 12:11

Explanation:

The word “chastening” here speaks of a discipline that is external, coming from our heavenly Father who loves us and wants us to do right. We do not love to be disciplined.  But a loving father sees a lack of self-discipline and must enforce that discipline upon his kids. This is what that chastening is. It is not something that we naturally come to with joyfulness. Here the word that describes it is grievous. 

Yet, discipline is freedom.  It brings about amazing effects- hear called “the peaceable fruit of righteousness”.  Life (think prosperity, health, wellness) comes from the discipline that is exercised toward righteousness. The person who is disciplined in what they eat and how they exercise can do more with their body for longer periods of time. The person who is disciplined with their mind can accomplish more in terms of their capacity to think and reason. 

Application:

We tend to think that we can be undisciplined and it will not catch up with us. We tend to think that we can escape the effects of sin, and enjoy it for a season. Yet, the wages of sin is death. Sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. If God is “chastening” you, don’t hate it. Don’t waste it. Use it to help you to grow and be better.

Response

Who do you need to have a conversation with about an area where you are undisciplined? You can have the pain of accountability or the pain of the fruit of un-discipline. The pain of accountability is far better.

brett jordan yd4lxgfsxek unsplash

The Discipline of a Father- Hebrews 12:9-10

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Hebrews 12:9-10

Explanation:

Today’s text makes the comparison of our earthly father to our Heavenly Father.

ComparisonEarthly Father Heavenly Father
Discipline? Corrected us?Yes.Yes.
Obedience and Honor?Yes. “gave them reverence”We should. “much rather in subjection”
Which is worthy of morehonor and obedience?He is!
Duration“few days”- Our childhoodFor our whole saved lives
Motivation“after their own pleasure”“for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness”

Application:

We should listen and obey our heavenly father who wants us to grow into His holiness. He wants us to be obedient. He wants us to live! He isn’t just with us for a time, He is in us all the time. We should be obedient, trusting that God knows and wants what is best for us.

Response:

Dear Heavenly Father, Help me to love you and live for you today. Thank you for chastening me when I need it. Amen

keren fedida ytvitjoirek unsplash

Good Dads Discipline Their Kids. Hebrews 12:7-8.

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

Highlight: 

Hebrews 12:7-8

7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Explanation:

This text points to a clear practical experience that relates to our relationship with God. A good father corrects his kids. A good father disciplines his kids. A good father uses a little stinging of the backside to keep his children from permanent damage. This is not abuse. In fact, it is abuse not to utilize some form of discipline. If a father does not correct his kids, then he is not being loving to them. God is a loving father, so God must correct his kids. Verse 8 tells us that if we never experience correction, then we are kids without a father. 

Paul gives fathers further instructions in Ephesians 6:4.

4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:4

This instruction given to fathers is exemplified by our Father. God does not ask us to do something as Fathers that He is not doing as our heavenly father. He admonishes and nurtures His kids. If you are not experiencing that, then you may not be his kid.

Application:

What is needed when I experience chastening?

Prayer and Introspection

It is so important to learn from the chastening of the Lord. If you are experiencing difficulty, the question that you need to be praying is, “Lord, what are you trying to teach me?” Psalm 51 is particularly helpful in this sense.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Psalm 51:10-12

Repentance and Submission

When sin is pointed out by the Holy Spirit, then repentance and obedience are what is necessary. Again, Psalm 51 is helpful.

For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Psalm 51:16-17

Response:

God, please give me the strength today to obey. Give me the awareness of my own walk with you to respond the way you would have me to respond. I don’t want to waste the time trying to serve you and be effective for you and doing it apart from you because of sin in my life. Without you I can do nothing. Amen

jordan whitt kqcxf zvdau unsplash

Thankful for Discipline: Hebrews 12:5-6

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:  6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Hebrews 12:5-6

Explanation:

Christ strove with sin, enduring, even unto death. He did this to purchase our redemption and provide resurrection life to those who would trust in Him. Now he strives with us, His children, to correct us when we sin. He will discipline us to help us do what is right. The preacher tells us to not despise this, or faint at it. Why? 

First, we should not despise it because it is evidence of the love of the Father. Good and loving fathers correct their kids and train them.

Second, we should not despise correction because it does just that. It corrects! We are better off for it because chastening and scourging from a loving father is always less severe than the pain that would come from not correcting the behavior. A received son is a loved son. A loved son is one who is corrected and trained.

Application:

How should we respond to such things?

  1. Be teachable. Chastening is all about helping us to understand what we’ve done wrong and changing it. Don’t be stubborn. Don’t waste the pain. Learn from it and change.
  2. Be thankful. Remember that this is an act of love from a loving father. He wants us to have a life that can be blessed through being obedient. Thank him for teaching us even through difficult circumstances.
  3. Be obedient. Kids who are obedient do not need to be corrected. Trust the Father enough to learn from hearing rather than learning from experience. It’s a better plan.

Response:

Heavenly Father, I do not want to learn through experience or the hard way. I want to learn by listening and obeying. Give me the wisdom and the will to do that. Help me to be thankful for the spankings and the chastening. Help me to learn from them. Not my will, but thine be done. Amen.