Discipline has rewards

"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." Hebrews 12:11

Many years ago, I ran my first 5k race around a sprawling and hilly park in the town I once lived. As circumstances would have it, I had the opportunity to revisit that area yesterday and run the same 3.1 mile loop that seemed so hard back then. And you know what? That hard loop wasn't hard anymore. It was so easy, in fact, that I ran it three times-praising the Father for the years of discipline and training that had brought me to this very point. You see, it wasn't always easy. But the reward of being able to run longer and farther was well worth all the pain. 

And you know, when it comes to spiritual discipline, the Bible makes it very clear that it is not "pleasant at the time" we are going through it either. But, "for those who have been trained by it", "righteousness and peace" are the rewards. Notice the word trained though? It means being taught a particular skill or type of behavior through practice and instruction over a period of time. You see training isn't a one-time thing. We can't just run a single mile one time and expect to finish a marathon right? Well the same is true of our pursuit to be like Jesus. Over a period of time, He uses the trials and the pains of our life to teach us, redirect us and train us up to exhibit the type of behavior that is Christ-like... something that, like running, is a lifetime process. 

So while undergoing discipline will never be pleasant or easy (it wasn't meant to be), we can find comfort knowing that the Father loves us too much to leave us as we are and will do whatever it takes to make us more like Him. After all, only a good father disciplines his children and we, my friend, have a very good Father. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for training, correcting and even punishing us when we stray from the type of behavior that is not Christ-like. Help us to patiently endure these times, asking what it is you might be teaching us. Thank you for loving us enough to discipline us and calling us your sons and daughters. It's in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!!!

Keep making me - Sidewalk Prophets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI1obeb3A9c