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A Guys Guide to Hebrews: Divine Discipline (12:1-29)  Nineteenth-century American statesman Daniel Webster often told the story of the day that he averted discipline in grammar school. As the story goes one day the young Mr. Webster was involved with some typical mischief that children of that age often discover. The teacher, a stern man, demanded that Webster come to the front of the class to have his right palm caned. Obviously classroom discipline was a little different when he was a child in the late 1700s. As Webster made his way out of his desk and slowly meandered toward the front of the classroom he realized that his hands were very dirty. Fearing that he would be in even more trouble if the headmaster saw how soiled his hands were, he feverishly rubbed his hands together trying to rub at least some of the dirt off of his hands. Try as he might though, the young boy was unable to cleanse his hands even slightly. Finally, after he had delayed as long as he could without incurring even more wrath, Webster presented the teacher with his dirty right hand. The teacher glanced at the dirty hand, and then stared the little boys in the eyes. The schoolmaster decided that rather than just discipling the boy, he would try to teach him a larger lesson. With a frown on his face he told the boy, “I you can find another hand as dirty as that in this schoolroom, I’ll let you off.” Webster thought for a moment then he pulled his left hand from behind his back. “Here it is, sir!” he proclaimed. The teacher looked at his hand and was left only to keep his word. Daniel Webster would not be caned that day. Discipline is something that we all would love to avoid, but the writer of Hebrews tells us that it is actually a good thing. Discipline from our heavenly Father lets us know that we are legitimate sons. A son who is not disciplined is not really a son after all. Those that God loves he loves to much to let them get away with sin. Like any father who cannot bear to let his children ruin their lives God will go to extreme lengths to discipline his children, and even though it will not feel good it will be for the best. Unlike Daniel Webster, there is no avoiding the discipline from the Father, but we will be the better for it. Questions for Discussion/Reflection 1. What are some ways that God disciplines us? 2. How does God discipline us? Staff Writer: Aaron Sharp |
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