You have not yet struggled and fought agonizingly against sin, nor have you yet resisted and withstood to the point of pouring out your [own] blood.
And have you [completely] forgotten the divine word of appeal and encouragement in which you are reasoned with and addressed as sons? My son, do not think lightly or scorn to submit to the correction and discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage and give up and faint when you are reproved or corrected by Him;
For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourges, every son whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes.
You must submit to and endure [correction] for discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not [thus] train and correct and discipline?
Now if you are exempt from correction and left without discipline in which all [of God’s children] share, then you are illegitimate offspring and not true sons [at all]. (Hebrews 12:4-8 AMPC)
REFLECTION
Earlier this week, I was thanking God and marvelling at how calm I was during trying situations and the genuine compassion I felt for students as I carefully corrected them. And then today things took a turn and I was reminded that I am still very much a pilgrim in progress – just like everyone else. I found that there was not a trace of compassion in my heart towards a particularly wayward student, only irritation, as I repeatedly corrected his wayward behaviour. I felt discouraged by both the student’s behaviour and the lack of compassion in my heart. This awareness took me to a spiritual crossroads: I could either spiral down into irritation and discouragement or I could turn to the Lord in honest prayer. I did the latter and I was reminded that enduring correction is a key component of the transformation process. So let’s stay close to our merciful Maker, regardless of raw realities and all the emotions that go with it, and ask Him to help us submit to His training, correction and discipline.
PRAYER POEM: Search
Loving Lord ~ here is my heart: search every part and help me fully yield to You and Your way, every moment of every day, come what may.
