Friday, August 26, 2016
Hebrews 12:7, 11 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?...Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
THE RACE OF FAITH: SPIRITUAL TRAINING
It's crucial to remember that the "track coach" during our race of faith is our loving heavenly Father--and also that, by grace alone, we are sons and daughters of the Coach! That perspective helps us understand what is behind the spiritual training, the chastenings, we have to experience.
Yes, the heavenly Coach puts us through some grueling exercises. The spiritual training regimen might include a loss of earthly possessions (think Job), physical sickness (think Paul's thorn in the flesh), death of a loved one (think Mary and Martha losing brother Lazarus), and others. In each case, the heavenly Coach was strengthening His own for a victorious conclusion to their race of faith. So too in our lives.
As they put their teams through rigorous training, coaches often appear to be hard people. They know "no pain, no gain." The heavenly Coach may appear that way at times, for "no chastening seems to be joyful...but painful"! Yet what is the ultimate aim or goal? "...Afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness [a peaceful conscience and righteous heart] to those who have been trained by it."
As we run the marathon race of faith, we soon discover how wonderfully all God’s training exercises pay off. Remember too that whatever we are asked to endure, the sinless Son of God experienced far more. He sweat drops of blood and endured crucifixion and God-forsakenness on account of our sins, thus gaining our redemption.
All honor, praise, and majesty
To Father, Son, and Spirit be,
Our God forever glorious,
In whose rich grace, We'll run our race
Till we depart victorious.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 524:7)
