The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 12:3-7, “For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so
that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;
5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, ‘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?”

“If you think that the punishment you received was hurtful, you ought to know what your friend received for his part in what you two did.” I’ve never figured out just how knowing that someone received a harsher punishment than I, makes my punishment seem less hurtful. It has to be a working on the mind. Jesus received much harsher treatment than any of us would ever receive; and He only did good and pleased His Father.

The word discipline suggests that by punishment for wrong doing, we will not do wrong in the future—at least, we’ll not do the same wrong. What the LORD uses to discipline those of us who belong to Him is an outgrowth of His Love. I can clearly recall my mother telling of how her father disciplined her with a switch. “He cried as much as I did,” she said. “It truly hurt him to hurt me, but he loved me and did it for my benefit.” He did it to bring her into line with what he believed to be best for her. And it worked! She was a delightfully loving mother!

That’s why the LORD disciplines us. Those who are not His seem to always get away with doing wrong. Paul notes that the LORD wants us to be like Him. Question: Would you rather be disciplined severely by the LORD or just be allowed to get away with doing whatever you please? Take a look at our world and see how few –how very, very few fathers have ever disciplined their sons. Then thank the LORD for having dealt with us as He has! In time, we will know He was right and we will be thankful for His love that led to His discipline.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom