Original: February 12, 2008
McMinnville, OR
6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 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 our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 "Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. Hebrews12:6-13
In October of 1985 I tore Cruciate Ligament while playing football against Cal Poly. That night in front of my hometown crowd launched a series of events that brought me to radical faith in Jesus, but this entry is not about all of that. It is only about my left knee.
After my surgery I asked Dr. Dillingham the question of the hour, “Will I have a problem with my knee as an adult?”
Quickly and confidently he shot back, “Your knee is fixed and stronger than ever. It is up to you now and how hard you work in physical therapy.”
After my six week period on crutches I began the rehabilitation process that would regain my strength and flexibility. I remember absolutely dreading those three-day-a-week rehab sessions trying to regain my strength and range of motion. Katie, my petite therapist would literally sit on top of my back as she pulled on my leg snapping and ripping the scar tissue apart. I can still hear her laughter as I cried out in agony! Religiously I forced myself to undergo her torture to regain my strength, size and flexibility. It wasn’t an easy path to say the least but eventually I make it back to full strength and motion.
Pain is the pathway to healing. But it is discipline that unlocks the door.
Hebrews 12:12 tells us to, “Strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.”
If a man fails to learn discipline in his daily life, he fails to become a man. Boys feel no pain. Boys need no discipline. When a man gives his life to the King he gives his life to discipline. Philippians 1:6 reminds us of this, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
God’s good work involves discipline. The good news is that God works with, and in, a man once he comes to Christ (John 14:17).
The bad news is sometimes we need more help than we are willing to admit, so God uses life’s circumstances for our benefit: “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons” (Hebrews 12:7-8).
The better news is that, “God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness” (10).
The best news for the man on the great hunt for God loves his men where they are, so much so He will not let them stay there.
