He disciplines those He loves…

Hebrews 12:5-13 "He disciplines those He loves…"

What do you think when you hear the word “discipline”? When God pokes you and convicts you… when he disciplines you… how do you respond? Do you ignore it, coil and push back on it like a child often does? Do you throw a tantrum? We often associate discipline with punishment, rejection or judgement but that’s not what God is saying in Hebrews 12. 

Another word for discipline is training. The dictionary says discipline is the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior. What does an athlete do in order to get good at a sport? What does a skilled musician do?  A ballerina?  How about a skilled craftsman? They all discipline their bodies and minds to master the skill. They often get mentors (coaches) that push and help transform their bodies and minds to think, react, obey the skill in order to get the desired outcome. 

I read something this week that caught my attention. When God pokes you and convicts you, when he disciplines you, the Holy of holies wanting to get your attention. He wants to mentor, to train and transform you into His image. These moments may seem painful however can we dare to see them as holy, sacred and divine? Because they are! The Holy of holies, the creator of the universe is speaking to you. Do you acknowledge His presence with reverence? When you face moments where He beckons you to listen, to surrender and to obey His leading, I want to encourage you to take off “your shoes” for you are standing on holy ground. Right here, perhaps more than any other time in our life journey, in these moments we are truly standing on holy ground. 

Oh, my friend! The God of the Universe wants to get our attention. His training yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. How will we respond? Do we approach these moments with resistance or with great reverence for the mystery, the wonder, the richness… What if we approached those holy, sacred moments as God warmly loving us as a father loves his child?