Hebrew 12:4-17

Preface: Some complain that they do not get an exercise high. I do not exercise for the high but I am mighty glad when I experience it. I just realized that I do not get it. This morning I did, even after a fairly short and slow walk around the neighborhood. Maybe I get the high more in the mornings. I can remember quite a few morning gym sessions when I was pretty high for several hours afterward. But some have extended their exercise more and more because they got addicted to that high. That is a bad idea.

Hebrew 12 is about the discipline of God, comparing and contrasting that to the discipline of our earthly dads. My dad attempted to discipline me. I reacted by being at times scared and at times angry. I never thought it fair nor just. Was it?

God's judgment is fair and just. It is very different than my dad's. But when bad things happen, when I am called to act in a disciplined manner my first reaction is likely to be anger.

I have to say that my father's discipline was to my good. I learned to persevere in the face of a lot of hardship. But my feelings are usually negative. So I can be hard to live with.

An example is schooling. I never understood someone who gave up and dropped a course. If I got behind or confused in a class I just buckled down, asked for help, worked longer hours. And no I am not smarter. I am about average intelligence. I always managed to catch up and at least make a "C". I can thank my dad for that ability. He forced me to not give up on several occasions.

God's disciple, well I usually chafe at first but then later rethink it. God is much more patient than a human parent. Like the story Jesus told of two sons who their father told to go to the fields and work. I am like the one who said "no" then later thought better of it and went.