HEBREWS 12: 7-15
This scripture passage is about deep faith. The kind of faith that survives - and in fact is strengthened - through trials. The kind of faith that is only possible through relationship with God. Relationship does not only mean warm fuzzy cuddles on the couch and walks along the beach at sunset. When you enter into relationship with someone, you take them for all the have to offer, and all that life throws at you.
Sometimes, we must accept correction and discipline from those close to us, for they can see us in ways that we can't always see ourselves. Unless we are prideful, stubborn, and ashamed, we respect and appreciate constructive criticism and challenge from our close relationships, for we know they are only wanting what's best for us.
How tight is your relationship with your Heavenly Father? The author of the Book of Hebrews uses the analogy of the earthly father for illustration:
7 For what son is there whom his father does not [thus] train and correct and discipline?
9 Moreover, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we yielded [to them] andrespected [them for training us]. Shall we not much more cheerfully submit to the Father of spirits and so [truly] live?
10 For [our earthly fathers] disciplined us for only a short period of time and chastised us as seemed proper and good to them; but He disciplines us for our certain good, that we may become sharers in His own holiness.
It has been stated many times over parents who discipline their children (in upright ways) gain more respect from their children than those who don't. Even if we don't admit it at the time, we appreciate when parents are strict with us or challenge us over certain aspects of our behavior and choices, because if we are truly humble and real with ourselves, we understand that we might not know everything or have the kind of perspective that our parent has.
Just yesterday I said to my son, who challenged an answer I gave him, "How old are you?" "Six." He replied. "How old am I?" "Thirty-six." He said. I asked him if he thought that having 30 extra years of practice at things might give me a deeper understanding about life. He admitted that was likely. So it is with God, to the exponential! God created the universe, he sees things not just from a few years of advanced training, but he created the years and the training in the first place!
So think about that - if we can truly trust-fall into the arms of our Creator-Father, especially in times of trial, especially when we feel we are being corrected by Him - how much deeper the lesson will be - how much greater the outcome! For he sees in all directions, in all dimensions - He knows EXACTLY what we need on a cosmic, divine level. The trust-fall is that much scarier, but the arms that we fall into are that much bigger, stronger, tender.
11 For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness—in conformity to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God].
And now comes the interesting twist: The writer of this passage tells us what our gain will be from being disciplined by God: "we will become sharers in His Holiness." But as the passage goes on, notice that this Holiness is not just a reward unto ourselves. But in fact, it is the ability to radiate the Glory of God unto others.
15 Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another], to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure God’s grace (His unmerited favor and spiritual blessing), in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness, or hatred) shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and the many become contaminated and defiled by it...
There is another form of discipline in life, and that is of taking on a skill or endeavor, such as physical training and endurance. Athletes must discipline themselves through training exercises and practice in order to build and maintain strength. This passage talks about that too, for the training God is putting us through - that we may be strong enough to bear his glory and shine it unto others - requires endurance and fortitude.
12 So then, brace up and reinvigorate and set right your slackened and weakened anddrooping hands and strengthen your feeble and palsied and tottering knees,
13 And cut through and make firm and plain and smooth, straight paths for your feet [yes, make them safe and upright and happy paths that go in the right direction], so that the lame and halting [limbs] may not be put out of joint, but rather may be cured.
I like how in that text, we are told that our strength-training will also bring about our own healing, just like how after an injury, someone going through physical therapy strengthens their body to bring about health.
Relationship with our Father-God bring about deeper faith, strength, healing, all of which we can bring into the world, into our sphere of influence. And remember that no matter how far the trust-fall, God's got the whole world in His hands - so there's nowhere else to fall but into his arms.