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God's Discipline

Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons. (Hebrews 12:7, 8 NET)

The writer of Hebrews makes an assumption that parents are active in disciplining and training their children. Discipline and. training are duties of parents. In fact children who are not disciplined are considered not illegitimate children. The writers point here is that just as parents train their children, God disciplines his people.
God trains those he loves. Discipline includes hard times. When hard times come, God's people are to push through. God trains because He wants His children to share in His holiness. Part of the lesson of faithfulness is to remain no matter the circumstances or outcome.
Our response is to accept God's discipline and training and understand that He uses hard times to train us for good. We should not reject God's training, persevere through the hard times. In the end it leads to peace, righteousness and healing (Heb 12:11,13).
For parents, biological or spiritual, it it important we don't neglect our duty to discipline and train our children. If children don't know how to receive good discipline and training, how will they receive discipline from the Lord? Failing to discipline and train the next generation is setting them up to not receive discipline from God.
Continue strong in times of discipline and work hard to train up the next generation. This is discipleship.
God Speed!
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