Renewing Your Spiritual Vitality

Hebrews 12:9–15
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The Christian life will include times of hardship and trials. We must not live with only our own survival in mind. Others will follow our example and we have a responsibility to them. Every boy knows that his father does not discipline the neighbor children. He disciplines him, and the reason is that he is a son. God does not discipline the children of the devil either; He disciplines His own. Therefore, if we have discipline, if we are going through struggles and problems we need to thank God that we are one of His children. The phrase “after their own pleasure” (v. 10) does not mean that fathers whip their children to amuse themselves. It means they did what they thought was right, though sometimes they were wrong. However God is never wrong.

God does not ask us to rejoice in trouble, but to rejoice in what the trouble does for us. Later it “yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness (v. 11). In other words, he is not expecting us to put a smile on our face and go around singing “Hallelujah, it hurts,” but ‘Hallelujah, it helps!” It is possible to go through trials and never have them do anything for us because we complain all the time.

When things get a little rough we may even be tempted to quit. At that time we just need to heed an old Western expression: ‘hang tough,” like a ranch hand riding a steer. Someday we will see that the things we are now going through were necessary, in God’s wisdom, to prepare us for what He has in store for us. If we stick with it and with God there is everything to gain. The world is not impressed with Christians who stop doing something they have been doing but when they start living the kind of life they, as unsaved people cannot live.

Application

I need to live an example that makes it easier for others to believe in and follow Christ. Is this true in my life or do those who try to follow me end up confused and mislead (vv. 12-15)?