I was reading a devotion today that was talking about how your life is not wasted just because it doesn’t look how you wanted it to. The devotion ended with verses 1-2 of Hebrews 12 which is the classic verse about running the race set before us. It was a powerful reminder that this “race” is our own and not anyone else’s. Just because someone else’s life looks prettier than yours, doesn’t mean you missed out, but rather, your race just looks different. You might be in a marathon instead of a sprint. It doesn’t make you any less worthy of a runner.
But I decided to read all of chapter 12 which goes on to talk about casting off sin and enduring discipline. Now most would allow that passage to be just what it looks like and think “I must not be getting what I want because I have sinned and God is punishing me.” But, that’s not always the case. If we look at it like that, how much more likely are we to spiral into the depressing thought pattern of “Well then why does Sally Joe get the life she wants when it is all wrong and sinful? Why am I being punished for doing things the right way?”
Trust me I’ve had these thoughts. I look at people around me who are professing and proud sinners. They have renounced their faith altogether or live as though they have despite still claiming Jesus. Yet they seemingly always get what they want. They have the life I want and at what seems like no cost to them. Sometimes I dig myself in a hole of jealousy with these thoughts. But what if that’s not what this passage is saying?
I got to thinking how many times we have overlooked that passage because we took the word discipline for its most popular meaning of punishment or chastisement. But what if that wasn’t the intended meaning for the word discipline. What if it was used in a totally different definition? Let’s look at some options:
Discipline: Outline of Biblical Usage:
- the whole training and education of children (which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose now commands and admonitions, now reproof and punishment) It also includes the training and care of the body
- whatever in adults also cultivates the soul, esp. by correcting mistakes and curbing passions.
- instruction which aims at increasing virtue
- chastisement, chastening, (of the evils with which God visits men for their amendment)
As you can see according to the Blue Letter Bible’s outline, there are several uses for the word discipline. What if the entire meaning of this passage could change just by changing how we look at that keyword. What if it isn’t meant to be a discipline because you did something wrong, what if it is a discipline because you are not where you could be. A training to cultivate the soul and curb passions and yes, to correct mistakes.
“Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 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. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
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? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 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? 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. 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. Hebrews 12:1-11
Discipline is not always a negative or because you are always in the wrong, discipline is sometimes a redirection. Let’s think about it this way, you have a toddler who sees the light of the fire and wants to touch it. So you instruct the child not to touch it because it is hot. The kid doesn’t understand why it seems like you are being mean and not letting them do what they want. But you understand that the fire is dangerous and they don’t understand that. Now I think we could all argue that the toddler did nothing wrong, nor were you being mean. But rather you were redirecting them in a loving way to keep them from harm.
Now don’t get me wrong, this passage is also clear in that reproach and chastisement are necessary and do go hand in hand with discipline. But that is the beauty of this passage because it can speak to many situations you may be facing; whether it is enduring hard times as a form of character development or it is a correction from sin. The meaning doesn’t change, only the way you understand it. The passage can still hold meaning in each situation, even in the good times.
Discipline of character hurts just as much as discipline of sin, they both change you and cause you to step outside of your comfort zone. But like the passage says, it will yield a peaceful fruit of righteousness. Let’s look all the way back to verses 1-2, and talk about the race set before us.
“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, 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.” Hebrews 12:1-2
Have you ever trained for something like a race or something sports related? It takes discipline to train and prepare your body to be ready. It’s not because you were doing something wrong, but rather because you are preparing for the future. That is the point of the word discipline in this passage, a preparation for what is to come.
“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. Strive for peace with everyone, and for 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 by it many become defiled;” Hebrews 12:12-15
Deep Thoughts With Nakia 