Daily Bread

God Disciplines His Children

⁴ In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.^{(A) 5} And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.^(E) For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline^(F)—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹ Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits^(G) and live!^{(H) 10} They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.^{(I) 11} No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace^(J) for those who have been trained by it.

¹² Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.^{(K) 13} “Make level paths for your feet,”^[b](L) so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.^(M)