- 神不是因为忿怒而责罚我们
4 你们与罪恶斗争，还没有对抗到流血的地步；5 你们又忘记了那劝你们好像劝儿子的话，说：「我儿！你不可轻看主的管教，受责备的时候也不要灰心；6 因为主所爱的，他必管教，他又鞭打所收纳的每一个儿子。」（希伯来书12: 4-6）新译
- 神的管教肯定了我们的身份
7 为了接受管教，你们要忍受，因为神待你们好像待儿子一样；哪有儿子不受父亲管教的呢？ 8 作儿子的都受过管教。如果你们没有受管教，就是私生子，不是儿子了。 （希伯来书 12: 7-8）新译
- 神要我们得着像祂一样的生命
9 还有，肉身的父亲管教我们，我们尚且敬重他们；何况那万灵的父，我们不是更要顺服他而得生吗？ 10 肉身的父亲照着自己的意思管教我们，只有短暂的日子；唯有神管教我们，是为着我们的好处，使我们在他的圣洁上有分。 （希伯来书 12: 9-10）新译
11 但是一切管教，在当时似乎不觉得快乐，反觉得痛苦；后来却为那些经过这种操练的人，结出平安的果子来，就是义。（希伯来书 12: 11）新译
12 所以，你们要把下垂的手和发软的腿挺直起来；13 也要把你们所走的道路修直，使瘸子不至于扭脚，反而得到复原。（希伯来书 12: 12-13）新译
反思及討論問題：
- 我們還記得父母曾怎樣管教我們嗎？我們那時有什么感受和反應？
- 我們怎樣解讀父母對我們的管教？父母給我們的管教與天父上帝給我們的管教有那些分別？
- 天父上帝曾用什么方法來管教我們？我們願意聽話接受祂的管教嗎？
- 我們應該怎樣面對天父給我們的管教？我們下次受管教時，預備會有那些不同的反應
Obey & Accept Discipline
- God does not punish us out of anger
4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” (Hebrews 12:4-6) ESV
- God’s discipline affirms our identity
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. (Hebrews 12:7-8) ESV
- God wants us to have a life like His
9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. (Hebrews 12:9-10) ESV
11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12: 11) ESV
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. (Hebrews 12: 12-13) ESV
Questions for reflection and discussion:
1. Do we remember how our parents disciplined us? How did we feel and react at that time?
2. How do we interpret our parents’ discipline? What are the differences between the discipline our parents give us and the discipline our heavenly Father gives us?
3. What methods has Heavenly Father used to discipline us? Are we willing to obey and accept His discipline?
4. How should we deal with the discipline given to us by our Heavenly Father? What different responses should we be prepared to have the next time we are disciplined?