Hebrews 12:1-13
L-T Hopper.

Discipline is clearly the theme. Discipline that is training or eduction by correction.
NOT PUNISHMENT for sin. It demonstrates we are the children of God. It proves our sonship. It shows we are heirs. V.7 ‘Son’= heir. v. 6 the Lord disciplines those he loves. It is the sign of being one of God’s children.

God doesn’t want any spoilt brats. If children aren’t disciplined they are not loved. V.7b-8
It is not a mark that we are cast out of the family but that we are especially loved.
He says earthly fathers do it and we respect them for it. Why because as we will soon see it is for own good. How much more when our heavenly Father disciplines us.

 

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John 10
L-T Hopper

 

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Last week on holidays I read a book on prayer called “A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller that was very stirring for my prayer life. Here are a couple of excerpts.

“To teach us how to pray, Jesus told stories of weak people who knew they couldn’t do life on their own. The persistent widow and the friend at midnight get access, not because they are strong but because they are desperate. Learned desperation is at the heart of a praying life.”

How desperate are you? The prayers of Jesus are cries of desperation:- “Father if you are willing take this cup from me”. “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?”

“The great struggle of my life is not trying to discern God’s will, it is trying to discern and then disown my own. Once I see that, then prayer flows. I have to be praying because I’m no longer in charge. Either I see all of life as a gift, or I demand that life have a certain look to it.”

What a great challenge to be praying like Jesus in desperation because we are weak and so desperate. What a great challenge to be praying ‘not my will, but yours be done.’ What a great challenge not to be praying God this is the decision ‘I’ have made in isolation from you and your people but guide me and lead me into your will through your Word and your people.