Disciple/Hardship and Running the race

11/21/11                                                                                    Hebrews 12:1-15

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2,5-8, 11: Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son." Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what Children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined-and everyone undergoes discipline-then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 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.

Observation: If you fix your eyes on Jesus we will be able to endure hardship. Which we need to take hardship as a discipline, because we have gotten a little lax in submitting before the Lord your relationship. We need to be disciplined from time to time. But this discipline is used as a training tool, just like a human father will discipline his own son/daughter. The Discipline wont seem pleasant but rather painful, but it in the same token produces a peace and righteousness for those that take their punishment as seen by the Lord.

Application: Discipline and hardship are must haves in any relationship. When you do something that someone disapproves of then you have discipline. Any Discipline given by the Lord is something for you to open your eyes, so that you don't step into the same mud holes twice and three times. However when you fix your eyes on Jesus we will be able to withstand the discipline/hardship, because we know he knows that it is best for our spiritual mentality.

Prayer: I know that I must fix my eyes and ears on you and run the race that is marked out for me, with perseverance. Then if I find my self forgetting the words of encouragement then I need to be rightly discipline and hardship. I pray that the hardship will be short lived for I know that I am sorry for what I have done. But in the end all eyes and ears must be on you. For it is in you that I live for you and breath your breath that you have put in me. Amen.