WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday October 30, 2016
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GOD’S DISCIPLINE PROVES HIS LOVE
(Embracing and overcoming trials)
(Hebrews 12:1-13)
In Hebrews chapter 12, the
author of GOD gives us a remarkably vivid description and summary of the Christian life, and, shows us the attitude we
should have, as we aspire to obtain our goal
of becoming more like CHRIST. In the Greek, the word used for “discipline” is “paideia” (pahee-di-ah), and it is
“education or training”. It also means “to nurture, instruct,
or chasten”.
The Christian life can be likened to a
relay race. The people of faith, like the ones
mentioned
in Hebrews chapter 11, who have run before us, have passed on the baton, and now, they anxiously wait to see how we will carry on in
the discipline that Christianity demands.
As we run, we can look back and see how JESUS ran HIS
race, and, at one and the same time, we can also look ahead, and see HIS
exaltation at the finish line.
JESUS, is our supreme example, and, HE is
the “Author and Finisher” of our faith
(Hebrews 12:1-2). A life that is void of testing from GOD is most likely going
to be a life void of prayer, humility, holiness,
and appreciation of what GOD has done for us. Tests from GOD are not made to make us fail, but rather, are made to
make us better representatives of CHRIST,
and Christianity, here on earth.
Trials are what GOD uses to refine us, and prepare us for a life of eternity with HIM, in HIS
kingdom. It takes a certain amount of discipline to
become, and remain successful in the Christian race. When we take into account how much JESUS endured, we can realize that
suffering and hardship are no excuse for
us to give up and drop out of contention (Hebrews 12:3-15).
If we fail to understand the love and
purpose of GOD’s discipline, we are likely to become bitter, and miss out
on GOD’s graceful intent. If we see our trials and difficulties in the perspective provided by GOD’s grace, we will
be better able to understand and accept HIS
discipline in our lives. Remember, Esau, who saw no value in spiritual things, ended up selling his birthright to
GOD’s covenant promise, for a mere a bowl of stew. If we
value only material things as he did, we too, are in danger of missing our blessings in the end (Hebrews 12:16-17).
We, as Christians, are not people who
meander along the paths of life in a totally oblivious manner. We are
not like tourist, who, each night, return to the point where we started that previous morning. The Christian life is
about going somewhere, and at the end of each day, we’ll do good to
ask ourselves, “Have we gotten any closer to our goal of being more like CHRIST?” That should be the aspiration of every
Christian, to, each day, become more and more like CHRIST.
However, the Christian also has another
inspiration. It is the inspiration of the “cloud of witnesses”, who have gone before us, and witnessed their
confession to CHRIST, and now witness our
performance from way on high. They are those people mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11, who personified faith during
their Christian walk here on earth. They
are those people like Moses, Abraham, and Noah, who have already claimed their crowns of victory.
But, unfortunately, we Christians also have
“a handicap”, and it is “the handicap and weight of our own sins”. It is very difficult to run a race, when you are
carrying excess baggage. If we wish to travel far, it
is much better to travel light. The burden of sin can weigh heavily on a person, who is trying to run the Christian race, or
walk the Christian walk. It is paramount that
we first discard the unnecessary things that hold us back, and what holds man back is sin. If we are to endure the Christian
race to the finish, we must first learn to
lighten our load of “sinful cargo” (behavior), and move away from our carnal desires (sin nature) (Hebrews 12:1).
Our supreme example of faith and discipline
is CHRIST JESUS HIMSELF. HE is also our companion along
the way, and, HE is our goal at the end of the race. Remember, GOD’s kingdom
will remain when the universe itself is shaken, and this old world itself will ultimately disappear. That is when one will truly
appreciate how good it will be to be a citizen in the kingdom of
Heaven.
We should also remember that our trials, can and will, both refine us, and, help prepare us to dwell in
eternity in the presence of THE ALMIGHTY
GOD in Heaven, at the end of our Christian race. The motivation for pursuing
holiness here and now, is the realization that, without it, no one can see GOD, or stand in the presence of GOD in the spiritual
life that follows our stay here on
earth. In other words, Christians must be, and will be, sinless when they see the LORD in Heaven.
A person’s perception of GOD in this present life is the true measure of his or her holiness. In order
to help us reach the state of holiness we need
to achieve, GOD whips us into condition with his Holy discipline, and testing. When we fail to understand the love and
purpose of GOD’s discipline, we are likely to become bitter towards
HIM, and thereby, miss HIS unfailing grace. However, when we are able to see our trials and difficulties in the
perspective of GOD’s grace, we are better able to
accept HIS chastening, which will refine us.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official
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