October 8, 2020
Discipline Produces Endurance
Hebrews 12:1–17
Courtney Wagenseller
Central Truth
As believers, Hebrews 12 calls us to run the race of faith with endurance and to persevere through discipline. The Lord disciplines us in our hardship because He's a loving Father, and we are His children. His discipline is protection and correction for our good and trains us to "share his holiness" (Hebrews 12:10).
Key Verse | Hebrews 12:10
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 12:1–17
Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Do Not Grow Weary
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 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.”
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. 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. 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.
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. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.
Dive Deeper | Hebrews 12:1–17
What's the first thing to go when you grow weary?
Discipline is thrown out the window when I am striving to do life in my own strength. The discipline to exercise, read the Bible, or even make my bed turns into a nonessential chore. I try to do things on my own, leading me to fall short of my commitments and fall back into sin struggles. Each of us desires to have purpose and meaning. Sometimes, our lives can feel more like we are stuck in a corn maze with no directional signs and less like the race we are called to in Hebrews 12.
How do we endure hardships and grow in discipline? Throw off any sin that entangles and prevents you from running after the Lord, and fix your eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2). Remind yourself daily of the gospel of grace. Consider Him who endured our sin on the cross (Hebrews 12:3). Not only does the Lord call us to be disciplined, but He disciplines us for our good and holiness (Hebrews 12:10).
Much of my life, I saw the Lord's call to discipline as a set of rules that I couldn't measure up to. I believed the lie that He was constantly punishing me for not obeying His call to be "perfectly" disciplined. Now, I don't see the Lord as a judge on a throne looking to punish me for my wrongdoings but as a loving Father.
His call to discipline is for your good, and His correction is for you to grow in holiness (Hebrews 12:10). In your hardship, your loving Father will find you in your weakness. I am reminded that God uses us in our hardship and weakness to bring us closer to Him. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9a) Remember you have a loving Father who cares for you in your hardship. He disciplines because He loves you so much that He sent His Son to die on a Roman cross for you. Your Heavenly Father will be your strength, so fix your eyes on His Son today!
Discussion Questions
1. What do you need to throw off that entangles you to sin?
2. How do you view discipline?
3. What discipline will help you endure your current hardship?
4. In the past year, what has the Lord taught you through hardship?
5. Why is discipline important in your walk with the Lord?