July 17
The Father's
Greater Love
Hebrews 12:7-8
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, but not true sons and daughters.
Daily Steps
When suffering is painful, it is easy to doubt your standing with God. This passage provides the new believer with an even stronger argument for The Lord disciplines the one he loves (Day 196): the absence of discipline is the true cause for concern, not its presence.
The peace in this argument is found in guaranteed legitimacy:
The Command to Endure: The instruction is simple and direct: "Endure hardship as discipline." This calls for patience and perseverance (Day 193), treating the difficulty as a purposeful training from a loving Father, not a random attack.
The Proof of Sonship: The text reasons that since every father disciplines his legitimate child, then the presence of God's discipline is the very proof that "God is treating you as his children." Without discipline, there is no proof of genuine sonship (not true sons and daughters).
The Result is Certainty: This divine logic secures profound peace and certainty in the face of pain. The moment you experience hardship and correction, you can know for sure that you are a rightful heir of God's unshakable Kingdom (Day 191). This certainty removes anxiety and empowers you to submit to the training for righteousness (Day 197).
Your peace in suffering is secured by God's affirmation. Embrace your hardships as proof of His greater love and your guaranteed sonship in the family of God.
Reflective Question
If you look at the hardship you are enduring right now, how does the knowledge that it is proof of your legitimate sonship change the way you respond to it? What is one specific way you can show reverence and awe (Day 191) to your Father today by enduring without complaint?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the truth that I can endure hardship as discipline because You are treating me as Your child. I accept this pain as affirmation of my sonship.
Help me to persevere and submit to this correction without losing heart. Secure my peace today in the certainty of Your great love and my place in Your eternal family. Amen.
