Training

"We have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness." (Heb 12:9-10)

Paul uses a parent's disciplining of their child as a metaphor for talking how God uses hardship as a means to train us up into His holy nature.  Usually when I think of discipline I think of punishment.  Perhaps that's because I grew up in an era when punitive measures were the "go to" method for correcting a child's behavior. Spankings and an angry "talking to" were part of my childhood both at home, school and even the church.

Things have changed.  Nowadays some children are undisciplined because they've not been trained by their parents.  Others are well mannered, but their parents use patient reinforcement of good behavior and gentle methods of correction for bad behavior.

Ms. Shami is 5th grade teacher at William McKinley Elementary. She trains her classes to be considerate, attentive, well mannered and serious about their education.  When students have questions, she makes them look up the answers n the textbook.  How harsh is that?  When a student is bothering another, she moves them apart.  When a student is unruly, she has them turn their desk away facing the wall.  And when their really bad, they stand with their noses in a circle on the blackboard.  Her students think she is mean.  Her coworkers think she is amazing and send her their difficult students for discipline.

Ms. Shami will tell you that years from now her 5th graders will consider her one of their best teachers in elementary school.  Why? Because she loves them enough to expect them to grow into their potential.  Through her discipline she trained them up to be good students and find success in their middle and high school years, even through life.  She loves and believes in each of her students.  She is tough, not an easy teacher, but she grows young hearts, minds and strengthens their confidence.

Paul wants us to understand that when hardship befalls the church or any one of its members, it's an opportunity for growth.  We can take advantage of these opportunities by considering that God, our Father in heaven, is training us.  Hardship does not mean God is punishing us for bad behavior.  Instead because trouble does come in this world, take heart and know that God and you together can make the best of it by growing spiritually.  We can abandon "Why me?" kind of thinking.  We can take delight in this thought that our Father in heaven in training us to become more and more like His Son, Jesus.

As I continue my Daniel Fast I endure a self-imposed hardship.  I do without finer foods and delicious comforts I am used to eating.  It's OK.  I'm in training for something God wants for me and for His church.  I follow the disciplined path in order to enjoy the benefit: Christ-likeness.

Dear Father in heaven, I praise Your holy name.  Thank You for loving me enough to use hardship as a means to train me up in Your holy ways.  Give me the heart and mind of Christ that I might fully reflect His life to the world.  Amen.