The Discipline of the Father
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April 15, 2018

The Discipline of the Father

by Alistair Begg

Hebrews 12:5–11  (ID: 3288)

We might be tempted to associate the discipline of God with that of our earthly fathers—but men at their best are marked by flawed motives and imperfect methods. Alistair Begg encourages us to remember that God’s discipline is perfect: He disciplines His children through trials, in love and wisdom, so that we will be conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus. We therefore should not respond to His discipline with careless indifference or give into the temptation to be overwhelmed by our difficulties. Instead, recognizing that God disciplines us as His beloved children, we can entrust ourselves to the wisdom of His purposes and grow to maturity in Christ.

Topics:
Hebrews 12:5–11

5And 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.

6For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

and chastises every son whom he receives.”

7It 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? 8If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9Besides 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? 10For 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. 11For 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.

Copyright © 2024, Alistair Begg. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service.

Alistair Begg
Alistair Begg is Senior Pastor at Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Bible teacher on Truth For Life, which is heard on the radio and online around the world.