Hebrews 12:3-17

Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children—

“My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
    or lose heart when you are punished by him;
for the Lord disciplines those whom he loves,
    and chastises every child whom he accepts.”

Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline? If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not his children. Moreover, we had human parents to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not be even more willing to be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness. Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.

Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and through it many become defiled. See to it that no one becomes like Esau, an immoral and godless person, who sold his birthright for a single meal. You know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, even though he sought the blessing with tears.

OK, so this is one of those texts that the first time you read it, you might cringe a little bit.

For many that is completely understandable. I remember growing up that "discipline" wasn't a word any kid liked to hear. And some kids less than others.

For some kids, "discipline" can be code for "spanking," or even, unfortunately, "abuse."

For others, it might be connected with something boring and dull.

And as we get older, our understanding of the word is colored by those impressions we had as children.

Yet look at some of the synonyms for "discipline." While "control," "order" and "strictness" are some of them, we also have "routine," "training" and "teaching."

The best discipline I've seen from parents has always been the kind that leads to self-discipline in the child. Loving order and routine that teaches self-control, direction, and an order to life.

I admit I'm not the most organized, orderly person. However, as much as I might not love the word, I know that I can not live without some discipline in my life or even in my faith.

Spiritual disciplines are those things that give order to a faith life that might otherwise seem chaotic. Things like "fasting," "prayer," "studying scripture," "service" and "worship" help us to make sense of our life of faith and give order to our relationship with God.

Disciplines help us be disciples.

Yeah, same root word.

Gracious and giving God, your have ultimate authority in my life. Help me to be disciplined and faithful as I share that life with you and the rest of your creation. Amen.