Jesus Is...! Series

Jesus Is...!

Hebrews 12:4-11

October 1, 2017

I really love what former Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry once said about his football players, he said, “The job of a coach is to make players do what they don't want to do, in order to achieve what they've always wanted to be."

That’s so great and so true! Other coaches call it “No pain, no gain.”

I’m not sure of anyone who really enjoys the pain! There are times when I go to workout and I really don’t want to be there. Sometimes I have to force myself to go, and amazingly once I’m there, it’s not a big deal to get to work, it’s just getting there. And sometimes, it kind of feels good to feel the pain in your muscles, because you know you’re benefitting from it.

If we’re exercising, we may be able to accept that pain. We may at times embrace the pain, because we know it’s for our own good. However, when we’re going through difficult times in our lives, when we may be disciplined, we’re not too happy! We don’t raise our hands when God asks “so who wants to receive my discipline today?”

Yet, to become a spiritual champion, means we often have to do the things we don’t always want to do. It means we have to make time to do the things we know we should do, yet struggle doing. Again, think about Tom Landry’s quote . . . and consider God the coach.

Most of us want to grow closer to God, we want to do the things which make a difference in the world, yet, we struggle with getting there, so God helps us become who we want to become, even though we don’t do what we need to do to become who we’re called to become.

Often times, spiritual growth will not occur without discipline and discipline often involves pain. Sorry, it’s a reality.

As we continue on our journey through the book of Hebrews, as we are discovering more and more who Jesus is in our lives, today - - we’re looking at something we really don’t want to hear . . . the discipline of God. Let’s look at Hebrews 12, beginning in verse 4 and hear the word of God ~

4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

5 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. (Proverbs 3:11)

6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.” (Proverbs 3:12)

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?

8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

9 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.

11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant,

but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,

13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God;

that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

Now, I’m going to jump around a little in this passage, because I believe the end of this passage really explains the beginning. It’s like a parent explaining why they’ve disciplined their child. I want to start with verse 14. It’s super important to understand what God wants us to understand and trust who He wants us to become.

14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

The author tells us to strive for peace with everyone. WOW! How vital is that in the church? Remember, he’s not talking to nonbelievers, he’s talking to the church. He’s talking to you and I. We think God kinda thinks we should be at peace with everyone. It sounds great on paper - - doesn’t it? But in reality, it’s not so easy. Let me tell you what the word STRIVE really means ~