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Article Archive |
2007
God's Discipline
by Jim Morris
“I can't make it Drill Sergeant,” whined the out-of-breath trainee. He fell out of single-line marching formation and stood by the side of the road crying as the other trainees passed him by.
The Drill Sergeant at the rear of the formation saw him first. Before we knew what was happening, that trainee was running alongside the formation with the Drill Sergeant barking out commands loud enough to wake every creature in the Missouri woods. The trainee had been commanded to give the Drill Sergeant at the front of the formation a message. When the trainee reached him, the Drill Sergeant at the front sent the trainee to the back with his own message. This went on for the duration of the march.
At every march, that trainee became the messenger boy. In time, he was able to carry a field radio and continue to relay messages between the two Drill Sergeants without tiring. By the end of Basic Training the trainee was transformed into a soldier. What he had lacked in the beginning was focus, discipline and endurance.
By the end of the first century, some Christians began falling out of formation. The Hebrew writer exhorted, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).
First, he gave them something to FOCUS on. He reminded them to focus on the Judgment Day approaching (10:25). He reminded them to focus on their past victories (10:32-35). He reminded them to focus on the “Great Heroes of Faith” (11:1-40). But most of all, he reminded them to focus on the Captain of their faith, Jesus Christ (12:2).
Second, he gave them the value of DISCIPLINE. God's own Son was disciplined. The writer said, “Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (12:3). Jesus had to endure hardships so why should we expect anything different? He told them, “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons” (12:7). In fact, suffering and persecution should be seen as corrective and instructive training for our spiritual development as the children of God (12:5-8).
Finally, he gave them the result of ENDURANCE. It will bring us life, holiness, righteousness, and peace. The writer said, “Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!” (12:9). “God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.” (12:10b). “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (12:11).
Let us not give up meeting together but encourage one another to focus on Jesus and to endure hardships as God's discipline.
07-04-07
# 27
