Hebrews – Learning to get out of the way

We are such a sensitive people! We think we are doing our best work and then the slightest criticism comes our way and BAM, it sends our minds to a place that is dark with thinking that is destructive. Because criticism comes from imperfect people, we must sift out the nuggets of truth and cast away others’ opinions of our character. Ultimately, only God knows us best. God knows our hearts. Take it all to Him. Ask Him to help you grow up.

God is the judge then of our hearts’ motivations and subsequent behaviors. He loves us enough to speak to us about our actions. The writer of Hebrews is reminding us that God disciplines those He loves. Look at the word “discipline”. For us, the first letters begin another important word in the life one who follows Jesus…”disciple”. 

To be a true disciple, we must allow God, our Father who loves us dearly and wants His best for us, to discipline us. He knows what we need just at the right times in our lives. The quicker we lay down our sensitivities and our human nature to place blame on something or someone else and accept our discipline from God the more rapidly we mature. I want to mature in His Kingdom, don’t you?

From Hebrews 12…listen! 

“…have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as HIS children?” 

‘My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either. It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects.’

“God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God?”

“We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holly best.”

“At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. IT always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.” Hebrews 12, Msg

Ah! Think about this last statement! Isn’t THAT what we are seeking when we seek God’s will for our lives? God’s will is to allow God to discipline, to train us for His best, to become more and more MATURE in our relationship with HIM! All kinds of jobs, ministry and secular, will come and go, but the bottom line of God’s will is to become mature in our relationship with Him. IF we are doing that, then we have found God’s will for our lives. Whew! Now, isn’t that an eye-opener! God defines us, not our present vocation.

We have NO earthly reason to drop out now! So, keep running the race, with God in You, training you, for His best…a mature relationship with Him. Wow. Just wow.

One last thought…Jesus taught us to have “child-like” faith but he never said anything about being “childish” in our walk. We need to grow up and that takes discipline for the disciple of Jesus Christ.

Dear Heavenly Father, I wish I could sit with You all day long, but I must get to work today. Continue to work in me. Thank you for this time alone with You to be disciplined as your disciple who loves you with all her heart, mind and soul. Help me to grow in my relationship with You, just be gentle. I know You love me enough to do this. 
In Jesus Name, Amen