“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 in it.”

Whether I speak of my mother, who believed in “spare the rod” or my drill instructors in basic training who believed in torture, I can’t remember any discipline that I wanted more of. We’ve all been disciplined at some point in our lives, hopefully, and none of us enjoyed it. If it was a switch, or pushups, or running the stairs or enduring personal insult, it was still punishment. Some may have been administered to correct bad behavior or some to instill proper character. A lot of it centered around obedience.

The writer of Hebrews is not so much interested in the pain as he is in the result. When we engage in self-discipline, we have a goal in mind. We now consider that the discipline we receive from God also has a goal. God’s discipline brings personal peace in righteousness. We would never achieve either of those on our own. We lack the self-discipline to do so. If we let God be our trainer, we will receive the desired goal.

Task for Today: Don’t give up because the discipline is painful. The reward is worth it. Yield yourself to God. In the words of the old song, “Let Him have His way with Thee.” Allow God to shape your vessel as it suits Him. When the discipline is over, pursue the task He gives you.