Disciplined to Liberty

What child has not been jealous of another child, whose parents seemed to impose less discipline and to offer more gifts? Yet, which environment prepared which child for success in the real world? Which environment equipped which child for fruitfulness or productivity in their lives?

Even as adults, we are still being disciplined by our Father, still being prepared for future fruitfulness and deeper, more righteous character. Assign the proper value to the discipline and preparation, and be raised up as a ruler in the household of the King of Heaven and Earth.

For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won’t grow weary and lose heart. In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons:

My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly,
or faint when you are reproved by Him;
for the Lord disciplines the one He loves,
and punishes every son whom He receives.

Endure it as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there whom a father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline—which all receive—then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had natural fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but He does it for our benefit, so that we can share His holiness. No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Therefore strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but healed instead.
(Hebrews 12:3-13 HCSB ©®)