"...No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.' Hebrews 12:9-13

This is one scripture in which the writer of Hebrews makes an assumption of his readers in his day regarding believers that “all” children had a father who disciplined them to walk in the right paths.  In that day the role of a father was clearly defined and was an integral part of the family structure as well as the societal and social order.  This was a time where children grew up in the discipline of the Lord according to the Torah (Hebrew scriptures) and families were connected in communities which were overseen by a Rabbi (teacher) who taught these families the ways of the Lord.  The father figure could have been a physical father in the home or the Rabbi who personified the role of a father in the temple.

In our day we have many broken homes in our society where fathers are absent and a male influence to model correct discipline in their children’s lives is either minimal or non-existent.  It has become the travesty of our generation, one in which our enemy takes great pride and pleasure.  Satan has sought to undermine the family structure and remove the Father from being the influence that he was meant to be.  Our fathers were to demonstrate discipline to children to show what our heavenly father is like, so that children could have a balanced understanding of the love of their earthly and heavenly father alike, without a father in the home that understanding is incomplete.

As children, so many of us who were raised in the ’60s & ’70s who didn’t have fathers in the home to discipline us. it left us with hard choices to make, what was going to be the influence for our future to move on into adulthood?  Some of us were stifled and stunted emotionally at a young age either due to either neglect or abuse, or a plethora of other reasons and never really grew up, while others of us chose to experience life with mind-altering drugs offered at the time to help push down the pain of not hearing or knowing the love and instruction of an earthly or heavenly father. 

There were also the families which did have fathers who were career driven and their discipline of their children was out of balance, so they spent little to no time with their children and were absent when the children needed their fathers the most. 

Then there were the families where the father was present and involved, it is those fathers that I acknowledge and recognize, as they embodied the role of a father and demonstrated God the Father's heart to their children.

While others of us have had to press into our Heavenly Father by ourselves so that He could teach us and instruct us in lieu of not having a father figure in our lives.  Admittedly, this is a much harder way to learn about discipline and obedience, but not impossible.  Our heavenly father is always willing to embrace His children and instruct us in His ways because He is a good Father.

The writer of this passage in Hebrews 12 says that "those who have been trained by discipline have learned that it is profitable" and good for us to learn and grow from those who teach and admonish us correctly.  In that same vein, the discipline of the Lord is such that it teaches us to become like Him, to develop holiness.  

The writer also points out that “discipline is not pleasant at the time, but painful”.  I can’t begin to tell you how many times I have complained and cried out "Ouch, Papa" during times of discipline, but as I reflect back on the result of the discipline after the painful part is over, I have become even more like my savior and share in His righteousness and peace.

The Lord’s discipline is about making correct decisions about our lives, in verse 13 it says to "lift up hands which are hanging down and strengthen knees which are weak" for the purpose of serving the Lord, for He is worthy of our praise.  

It also says to "make level paths for your feet" which means for us to choose the paths which we have been taught to walk on, which in this case are paths of wholeness and healing so that "those who are weak may be healed."  We have learned through discipline how to heal ourselves and others through healing prayer and how to stand firm on the promises of God which are there for us to live victoriously and joyously.

We are called to be ministers of righteousness and peace so that we may train others about the discipline of the Lord which demonstrates the mercies of our God.

"The Lord corrects the people He loves and disciplines those He calls His own."  Hebrews 12:6 (CEV)

Be Blessed;

Stephen Barnett