For Discipline…Endure

Our God and Father, Yahweh, the God of Israel, loves His only begotten Son from everlasting to everlasting. He also loves His adopted sons, whom He chose and gave to His eternal Son, our elder Brother, the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn 17:2, 6, 24; 18:9).

It was the Son of God who came from heaven, took on flesh, dwelt among us, lived without sin, did innumerable good works, and who went to the cross to pay for our adoption. He bought us for a price of redemption that cost Him His own life in the ultimate act of love (1 Cor 6:20; 7:23).

Upon returning to heaven, Jesus took His seat at the right hand of the Father on the throne of God. Together, they sent the Holy Spirit to gather the elect, redeemed people of God and baptize them into Christ’s church, the Israel of God — chosen people from every nation, tribe, and tongue (1 Cor 12:13; Rev 5:9; 7:9).

It is the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Triune Godhead, who takes up permanent residence within each soul born again of God (Rom 8:9, 11). This is Christ in you, Christian, the hope of glory (Col 1:27), but it is also Christ willing and doing God’s good pleasure each day (Gal 2:20; Phil 2:13).

God’s will for His adopted children is our sanctification (1 Thess 4:3). His divine will is for us to be holy, as He is holy (1 Pet 1:15–16). The reason is that without holiness, no one will see the Lord (Heb 12:14). Therefore, it is the Spirit who fixes our eyes on Jesus, who is the source of one’s faith (Heb 12:2).

In looking to Jesus, we learn Christ from our Teacher, the Holy Spirit, who causes us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn 14:26; 2 Pet 3:18). The Spirit, who brought the Holy Bible together (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20–21), is the same Spirit who guides us into all truth (Jn 16:13). He helps us to know Christ through the ministry of the Word of truth, Holy Scripture.

The way to holiness is discipline (Heb 12:10). God disciplines those whom He loves (Rev 3:19). We understand His sanctifying work from the Scriptures and from experience (1 Pet 1:2). Christians should not ask “Why?” when sufferings come, but the psalmist inquires “How long, O Lord?” Discipline can be immensely sorrowful, a genuine scourging of body or soul or both. It can last a short or a very long period.

Deuteronomy 8 reveals the heart of God in His work of disciplining His chosen people, who He intends to make into a holy nation (1 Pet 2:9). In this chapter of the second giving of the Law, God explains His history with Israel. He also speaks to them of their future failure to heed His voice, and His pending judgment for them to perish.

In this promised failure, ethnic Israel gave way to the True Israel, Jesus Christ, who promised to build His church (Mt 16:18), who would follow in His victory by faith (1 Jn 5:4). Before we jump too quickly to a theology of glory, we must follow Jesus to the cross with a theology of the cross.

Our Lord learned obedience through sufferings (Heb 5:8). We must learn the obedience of faith by joining in the sufferings of His body (Col 1:24; 2 Tim 1:8). Jesus promised, “In the world, you will have trouble…” (Jn 14:27), therefore, we should count it all joy when diverse trials come upon us (Jas 1:2) because we know God our Father causes all things to work together for good, for us who love Him and who are called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28), which is to bring glory to Himself, for the great things He has done. For from Him, through Him, and to Him are all things (Rom 11:36). He is Lord of all (Acts 10:36).

Nothing drives the Christian to the means of grace like trials and tribulation. As one suffers, he receives grace, so he prays to God his Father asking for relief, for help, for comfort. Unanswered prayers can often be grounded in one’s selfish desire, therefore, it is always wise to end every prayer with “nevertheless, not my will, but your will be done.”

The Word of God teaches us to wait on the Lord for His deliverance. Knowing the truth, as it is in Jesus (Eph 4:21), informs our suffering and our endurance in suffering. The command is “For discipline, endure” (Heb 12:7). Our Father knows the best course for each one to be conformed into the image of Christ (Rom 8:29). His Spirit leads us on the way prescribed uniquely for each child to be brought into alignment with His holy family.

My dear reader, God does not discipline those who do not belong to Him; therefore, take comfort in the Spirit and the Word working to accomplish what you could not do in your own power and wisdom. It must be Christ, the wisdom of God, the power of God who is formed in you (1 Cor 1:24; Gal 4:19). It is God’s work to accomplish this in you (Gal 2:20). He who began this good work in you will bring it to its perfect completion (Phil 1:6).

If what I have written to you here is foreign, then do not presume you are a child of God. Legion are the false teachers promulgating the doctrine of demons, who deceive fake Christians into believing that only health and wealth await those with enough faith, which no one has except the one fleecing the ever-larger crowd of goats, destined to stand in the judgment, arguing, “Lord, Lord, did we not do this and do that for you?” (Mt 7:13). These were never known to God, who searches every heart and is forever omniscient.

Finally, Christian, give thanks to God in everything, for this is His will for you (1 Thess 5:18). His intention for you is always good. Therefore, rest in His grace and provision. Wait and see what He produces through His disciplining work in and through you. His purpose will not fail, nor will the joy of the Lord, which is our strength, today and every day.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

July 12, 2026

Hebrews 12:4–11