Hebrews 12:11 - "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it..."
What comes to your mind when you hear the word discipline?
Most of us think of punishment or corrective action - something negative.
But the Bible presents discipline MUCH differently.
In fact, the Bible often highlights the benefits of discipline, rather than its negative side.
A biblical view of discipline can be quite healthy... and quite powerful in our lives.
Let's start by thinking about how discipline has 2 parts...
1) The sacrifice
2) The reward
Most of us are very familiar with the sacrifice side of the discipline equation. We skip prayer time in the morning for 15 extra minutes of sleep. We moan about the sacrifice a healthy body requires - controlled diet and frequent exercise. We complain about the discipline of a job and the schedule it demands, preventing us from doing what we WANT to do instead. We sometimes even complain about the overwhelming time investment in our children as parents with little time left over to ourselves.
But the Bible reminds us that a disciplined life ALWAYS includes big rewards.
When we are disciplined about starting our day in quite time with God, we get His counsel throughout our entire day.
A healthy body gives us not only the physique we often seek, but also provides the energy truly necessary to accomplish for ourselves and others what we set out to accomplish.
A disciplined approach to our work often opens new doors that advance our careers and the blessings that come with them.
Disciplined investment of quality and quantity of time with our kids is unquestionably valuable in producing the kind of children about whom we can all be proud... and will bless our lives abundantly in the future.
It would serve us well to renew our minds on the important fact that discipline brings rewards, especially in the very moment we feel the sacrifice.
That is where this verse from the book of Hebrews can help.
The author of Hebrews reminds us that for thousands of years, discipline "seems unpleasant." We can resonate with that feeling, bringing a legitimacy with not only our modern experience of life, but also the truth of the Word itself.
When we choose to becomes stronger by inviting the sacrifice of a disciplined life in different areas of our lives, we will experience the benefits - the blessings - from God.
It is our choice whether or not to develop a disciplined mind and lifestyle.
Apply This:
1. Meditate on this verse
2. Remember - discipline has 2 parts: sacrifice PLUS reward
3. Use this verse for inspiration to do what you don't FEEL like doing by focusing on the REWARD that is coming!
