Discipline that Regulates Character

November, 2005

by: Dee Ellison

In Hebrews 12 the writer of the book urges his readers to remember the example of those who lived by faith and believed God even at the cost of their lives. Pointing to their example, he tells his readers to fix their eyes on Jesus and endure trials as Jesus did. Using Jesus as an example of endurance in trials, the writer reminds his readers of the purpose of discipline for sin in vss. 5-11. The word discipline used in these verses is paideuo which means the discipline that regulates character. It is corrective and positive in nature and will use whatever forms of discipline are necessary — encouragement, exhortation, correction, chastisement — to produce the desired effect in the character.

In Heb. 12:5-11 we read:

5. My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him;
6. For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.
7. It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
8. But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
9. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?
10. For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.
11. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

As we look at the verses above we can make certain observations about the discipline of the Lord. We learn from vs. 5 that we are not to take the Lord’s discipline lightly, nor are we to faint under His reproof (thinking it is too much for us). Verses 6 and 7 reveal that the Lord loves those He disciplines, in fact, He deals with us as sons. We are even warned that if we are without His discipline in our lives, we are not His children at all.

We learn that even earthly fathers discipline their children. It is also inferred that children who are disciplined by their earthly fathers respect them (vs. 9). We observe in vs. 10 that earthly fathers discipline their children for a short time (the time we have here on earth) in the ways that seem best to them. By contrast, God disciplines us for our good because unlike earthly fathers, there is no doubt that God knows what is best for us.

As if we weren’t already convinced of the wisdom and goodness of God in disciplining His children we are told His purpose in doing so. He disciplines us so that we may share His holiness. He disciplines us, knowing that after we have been trained by it, the peaceful fruit of righteousness will be seen in our lives. J. Vernon McGee once said, “This is like the boy whose father said to him before he whipped him, ‘Son, this is going to hurt me more than it hurts you.’” The boy said, “Yes, Dad, but not in the same place.” God chastens His children. He does not get any particular joy out of it, but He does it because you and I need it. Not only does chastening not seem to be joyous, it isn’t joyous, but grievous—that is our experience. Although no chastening at the time is fun, “afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” God does not discipline you without purpose.”

Reflect on the love and wisdom God applies to your life as He trains you so that you will share in His holiness. Then respond to His discipline in your life correctly by not taking it too lightly or emotionally pining away because God disciplined you. As God trains and regulates your character through His word, through conviction of sin, through godly friendships, through trials and hardship, remember that He does it in all wisdom, out of perfect love, so that you will share in His holiness.