Praise and Rebuke
(He12:1-13; 1Pe1:7)
God is the true Father (He12:7-8).
He gives birth to His children through the word of truth (He1:18), and
He nurtures them with the true word (Jn17:17).
Faith is receiving this, and
The life of this faith is hearing the true word and being disciplined so that one may become mature to
be praised (He5:12-14).
While everyone wants to be praised, no one wants to be rebuked.
Though to be praised, one must first be rebuked many times,
It is hard to fine true discipline and rebuke in today's families and schools.
However, because God is the true Father,
He probes wrongdoings, rebukes, disciplines, and chastises
In order to lift up His children
Having them made a spectacle to the whole universe and to angels (1Co4:9).
While after Adam and Eve sinned, God probed them each (Ge3:9, 11),
After the serpent, that is, the devil, sinned,
God only sentenced the price of his sin (Ge3:14; Is14:15) for
To the angel there is no forgiveness, salvation, expectation or promise (He1:5, 2:15).
After David committed a grave sin and was probed by God,
He mourned for his sin and thus his life was spared
Albeit his household faced disasters thereafter (2Sa12:9-18).
As such, the history of Israel was
God disciplining them through diseases, disasters and defeats.
But the sanctuary was where the name of Jehovah was, and it was
Where they returned in repentance to seek God's forgiveness.
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days (Jn2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would reveal that He is the true Son of God who alone
Does not need any teaching, discipline or rebuke, for
He is the incarnate Word who was with the Father in the beginning (Jn1:1, 14, 18), who
Alone can satisfy the heart of the Father (Mt3:17, 17:5).
However, He was despised by men, and
Received pain, suffering, sorrow, and punishment (Is53:3-6), and
Finally put to death.
However, as He died, Jesus said, "It is finished (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1. Acknowledged that the Father alone is the true Father who disciplines even the Only Begotten Son (He12:7);
2. Condemned the devil who deceived Adam with lies that are sweet to the ear (Ge3:5; Jn8:44); and
3. Through His blood gave birth to those deceived by the devil, not knowing true words, so that they may hear the true words of the Father.
Jesus rose and ascended to the heavenly throne, and
He is the Father of all souls (He12:9).
The Holy Spirit who comes in the name Yeshua
Gathers the children of God born again in the blood of Jesus
Into the flock of the church (Ac20:28-31), and
Nurtures them with the true word by
Teaching, scolding and disciplining them (2Ti3:16).
The illegitimate son runs away when he is disciplined, and
The young child loses his heart when he is rebuked (He12:5-8).
But the true son repents when he is rebuked, and
Rather gives thanks when he is disciplined for
He knows that the Father is treating him as a true son who will not run away.
The mature son is he who,
Whether he faces sickness, poverty or disaster,
Understands the heart of the Father who still rebukes with a rod his immature son, and
Therefore, puts every effort to become a good son to be praised
When the Lord is revealed (1Pe1:7).
O Lord,
Thank You for giving birth to
Such an immature child like me and nurturing me.
Now I know that all the pains, the despair and the sadness of the past were
Your love disciplining me.
Father!
For us to all be praised as Your beloved children in that day,
Rebuke us more now!
Discipline us more now!
Amen.
