Hebrews 12: 5-12

5 And have you entirely forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you, his children? He said, "My child, don't ignore it when the Lord disciplines you, and don't be discouraged when he corrects you.

6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes those he accepts as his children."[b]

7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Whoever heard of a child who was never disciplined?

8 If God doesn't discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children after all.

9 Since we respect our earthly fathers who disciplined us, should we not all the more cheerfully submit to the discipline of our heavenly Father and live forever[c]?

10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God's discipline is always right and good for us because it means we will share in his holiness.

11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening--it is painful! But afterward there will be a quiet harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

12 So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs.

13 Mark out a straight path for your feet. Then those who follow you, though they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong.


As a continuation of my study in “humility in difficult times”, these lines from chapter 12 of Hebrews strike me right. The fact is clear to us, all parents discipline their children in some ways, may it be spanking, abstinence from privileges, or verbal scolding, whatever ways that we, the earthly parents, may find effective. And God, my heavenly father uses His heavenly ways to discipline my selfishness and pride in order that I can be only getting closer to him rather than further. I am grateful that I am facing the disciplinary acts, even though most of the times I do not enjoy them. May God show me the way that I should go, so that I can walk humbly with Him. Today, it will be a day of prayer for me to understand God’s plan and my in-most responses to Him. Just as it is written in Psalms 139:23

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

Amen!