The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet #4635

Hebrews 12:3 For consider him that endured [hupomeno] such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Compare your trials and tribulations to the shedding of His blood
and the suffering of the cross and then stand up and get back in the race!

[4] Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price and gave His life to pay for our sins and defeat death!

Overcoming the world and the temptation to "draw back" (apostatize)
isn't quite like being scourged and beaten and then crucified on the cross, is it?

That should be point enough to help us put our problems into their proper perspective,
but there is yet another point that Paul would have us not be ignorant of...
and that is that we should not overlook the fact
that our heavenly Father sometimes chastises us when we veer off the track!

[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:

You see, not everything that "comes your way" is the adversary trying to punch your lights out!

Sometimes we do a fine job all on our own of messing things up.

Nevertheless, when we earn the just recompense of a good spanking,
our Father disciplines us to get our attention and turn us from the error of our ways.

However, the VERY FACT that we are being disciplined is actually proof positive
that God loves us and we are His precious children!

Only a parent who does not care if his child grows up wild and unruly, undisciplined,
would withhold the rod of correction (i.e. chastisement) from his child.

So learn to recognize when you are being chastised
and then "Kiss the paddle" and say "Thank you Father"
because you know in your heart He did it for your own good.

In other words, chastisement is your confirmation that you are His son or daughter.

[6] For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Of course Paul, after the manner of his teaching is, just quoted from the scriptures once again.

This time he quoted from the great Book of Proverbs.

Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

Look up the word "weary" in your Hebrew dictionary or Strong's Concordance.

In street English it means don't get all "bent out of shape",
i.e. distressed and anxious, when you receive chastisement.

Take your "thumpin" like a man and get back in the race!

[12] For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

You "see", true love requires discipline which often falls under the heading "tough love"
because it can be a lot tougher on the one exacting the discipline then it is on the one receiving the correction.

In other words, there is no joyful feeling in disciplining a child
except in knowing in your heart that in the long run he or she
will benefit from the love you give them in the correction.

In fact, if you truly understand this, you will more fully understand the love our Father displays
in creating this flesh age for all of us to pass through and die once (Hebrews 9:27).

So can you "endure" a little chastening from your heavenly Father
without whining and moaning and complaining?

Because if He chastens you, it is because He loves you!

Hebrews 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

A father or mother who does not discipline his or her child, does NOT love that child!

Therefore that child is without a loving parent!

[8] But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

All God's children occasionally receive correction from Him and you know what?

When His children know they have been chastened, that just makes them love and respect Him all the more,
just as it did when our earthly fathers and mothers corrected us!

Of course, one should never chasten a child in anger or rage!

[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?

Children may blurt out "I hate you" when they receive correction or do not get their own way,
but wise parents know their children will later love and respect them for caring
about them enough to chastise them (that later is sometimes 10 or 15 minutes).

"Wise" children of God also love their heavenly Father when He corrects them
because they know that He cares for them and loves them.

[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.

Our heavenly Father teaches us and chastises us that we might mature and become just like Him,
i.e. be partakers of His holiness! Yes, like Father, like son!

So why would you think that your heavenly Father would not chastise you?

[11] 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.

Chastening produces the "peaceable fruit of righteousness"!

Did you know that?

In fact, without chastening, without discipline,
there often can be no growth which is expressed by the proverbial saying, "No pain, no gain".

Again, it isn't pleasant for either the chastener or the chastenee
but the reward which comes from being steered back on the path of righteousness is well worth it... to BOTH parties!