Hebrews 12:11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

This is a very important truth that is very difficult to convey properly in Japanese, because there is no word in Japanese that means exactly, discipline. In English, the word can be used either as a noun or a verb. The word with which it is translated into Japanese, for want of a better alternative, can likewise be used that way, but it means training. In English, there is the clear connection to “disciple,” and that is of great importance. We can say that a disciple is one who has been trained, so going to the Japanese, we can say in this verse, “discipleship training,” to indicate that this is more than simple training to do a task. After all, the majority of training wouldn’t be considered painful. In a sense that’s rather ironic, because the Japanese are known for being very disciplined in many areas, sometimes to a fault. However, the principle expressed here, of discipline springing from a father’s love, is far deeper than simple cultural norms. We need to understand that, left to ourselves, we will squander the majority of the opportunities that are presented to us, so the Father doesn’t just leave us to ourselves, but rather disciplines us in many different ways to guide us into the path that He knows is best for us. Sometimes we might think we want God to leave us alone, but that is actually one of the most tragic things that can ever happen to a person. On our own, we’re hopeless! God loves us too much to leave us alone, but in our stupidity, we think He’s picking on us, when nothing could be further from the truth.

I have loved this verse for as long as I can remember, but I can’t say I’ve always welcomed the Lord’s discipline! Indeed, sometimes it has felt painful, but it has always led me toward righteousness and peace when I have yielded myself to it. As a pastor, sometimes I have been put in the place of administering discipline, and if anything, that’s even less pleasant than being on the receiving end! Parents sometimes tell their children, when administering physical punishment/discipline, “This hurts me more than it hurts you.” Children hardly ever believe that! However, it can be quite true. Of course, the ultimate example is that God sent His only Son to take the punishment for our sins. We can’t imagine how painful that was for God, both Father and Son, but He did it for us. As a physical father, I didn’t always apply discipline perfectly, as my daughters can attest. I can’t say I’ve always done it perfectly as a pastor, either. I need to recognize the Lord’s discipline of me and be grateful, and thus be available when He wants to use me in training someone else to be a better disciple as well, so that together we may be what God designed and created us to be, for our blessing and His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for showing me how I’m to communicate this to the believers on Sunday. Thank You for telling me to use this as one of the messages for CGNTV later this month. May I not draw back from anything You want me to do, particularly when I don’t know how to do it, so that I will receive Your good discipline in the process, for the sake of the Body of Christ and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!