Hebrews 12:6 “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”

Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus  

You have these great examples of faith to inspire you in your race—but look to Jesus. Keep your eyes on Him! It is easy to be discouraged by trouble. It is easy to ‘carry baggage’ that slows you down. It is easy to get your eyes off Jesus and onto your problems. BE CAREFUL. He is a good Father who will correct and discipline you, so you get back on track. Those of you with good fathers know that they were not afraid to discipline you to get you back on track—because they loved you and wanted the best for you! So will our heavenly Father.

Discipline is often so challenging that we need to be reminded not to despise it (as mentioned in (Proverbs 3:11-12). While no one enjoys pain at the moment, it’s comforting to know that God has a purpose for allowing it in our lives. God’s love for us is so profound that He doesn’t permit us to act on every whim. Out of love, He provides guidance, correction, and sometimes discipline to ensure we remain on the right path and maintain a proper relationship with Him. Remember, when you experience God’s discipline, it’s a sign of His love, steering you towards what is best.

The persevering obedience of faith in Christ

By steadfastly looking to Jesus, their thoughts would strengthen holy affections and keep under their carnal desires. Let us then frequently consider him. What are our little trials to his agonies, or even to our deserts? What are they to the sufferings of many others? There is a proneness in believers to grow weary, and to faint under trials and afflictions; this is from the imperfection of grace and the remains of corruption. Christians should not faint under their trials. Though their enemies and persecutors may be instruments to inflict sufferings, yet they are Divine chastisements; their heavenly Father has his hand in all, and his wise end to answer by all. They must not make light of afflictions, and be without feeling under them, for they are the hand and rod of God, and are his rebukes for sin. They must not despond and sink under trials, nor fret and repine, but bear up with faith and patience. God may let others alone in their sins, but he will correct sin in his own children. In this he acts as becomes a father.

Our earthly parents sometimes may chasten us, to gratify their passion, rather than to reform our manners. But the Father of our souls never willingly grieves nor afflicts his children. It is always for our profit. Our whole life here is a state of childhood, and imperfect as to spiritual things; therefore, we must submit to the discipline of such a state. When we come to a perfect state, we shall be fully reconciled to all God’s chastisement of us now. God’s correction is not condemnation; the chastening may be borne with patience, and greatly promote holiness. Let us then learn to consider the afflictions brought on us by the malice of men, as corrections sent by our wise and gracious Father, for our spiritual good. Bible Hub

“Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer