Hebrews 12:3-10
If Jesus is better, why are our lives getting worse?
1. Pain is a GIFT
2. Pain is for our GOOD
3. Pain is leading us to a GOAL
Hebrews 12:3
Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
Hebrews 12:4
In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Hebrews 12:5-6
And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
Pain is not a sign of condemnation, it is a sign of confirmation.
Hebrews 12:7
It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
Discipline = Freedom
Hebrews 12:8
If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
Pain isn’t evidence that he has abandoned you. Pain has evidence that he has adopted you.
Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.