Hebrews 12:6

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As a young boy I remember that my mother used to ask me to do some chores and there was a specific day I really remember that she was saying please do this, this, this, this. Then when you’re done you can go have fun. You can go play, do whatever.

But I decided to test her limits and I talked back. Now here’s the thing: she let me get away with this multiple times, but there was one too many times that I spoke back. And it shouldn’t be surprising, but finally she came over, she grabbed me, and she spanked me. And then she had me sit down the kitchen on a stool and she says you’re going to think about what you were doing, what you were saying to me and the disrespect you caused.

Of course I was in tears and I didn’t feel good. But as we discussed it I learned that I was actually hurting her. That I was disrespecting her. Not showing love. I got discipline many other times and it’s because I totally deserved it.

Now discipline, it doesn’t feel good. It’s not actually supposed to. Discipline is a humbling experience meant to curb us away from sin meant to keep us from doing anything that is wrong. Even something that could harm ourselves or other people. So discipline is good. We read in Hebrews chapter 12 verse 6 something even more, because God also disciplines us. He says:

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. (Hebrews 12:6)

It seems like it’s just absurd that this all loving God would discipline those who are his. And that right there that’s just the key. He loves us. That discipline is meant to keep us from losing our faith, from hurting ourselves physically, from keeping us away from harm, and making dumb choices. My mother would take me aside afterwards, she said you know I discipline you? Because I love you. Because I want you to live. I want you to be safe. I want you to be able to go on throughout this life and to know what I have taught you will help you.

God with his discipline shows that he loves us. That’s what it means. And it doesn’t feel good, but those trials that come into our lives or the consequences of our personal sins or actions. He uses those to teach us to look to him as our only provider, our protector, and ultimately our Savior. And of course Scripture tells us that if we aren’t disciplined then are we really loved?

God shows us his discipline especially through Christ. We deserve the full punishment of God. However, it was Christ who received the full punishment. He was on the cross who bore the weight and the pain for all of our sins and we were spared and we have been brought and made his child.

So what does it mean to be disciplined by God? It means that we are loved and then anyone who is disciplined by God as we go on through this life living by faith living in God’s grace we know that he loves us and that he is caring for us and that we are His child promised to enter his heavenly home.

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My favorite time of the day is when I get to be with my family at dinner. For us that’s where we get to tell stories about the day, we make up stories with the kids, or we crack jokes, we do trivia. All that is great. All that is fun and yet there is something even more important than that. It’s family devotion time.

This really is close to my heart. This is where we have the opportunity, my wife and I and my kids to go into the Word of the Lord and to learn what he has to teach us. A passage from 2 Timothy tells us in chapter 3 verse 16:

All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16)

Now just think about this. You’re sitting at the table or whatever setting you you find yourself in for you and your family. But you are allowed to there learn from God’s Word. He encourages you so that you may be taught something, retaught something, learn something that guides you through this life.

It’s used for rebuking so that even mom or dad they can say you know I have something to learn here I’m sorry for how I’ve treated my family. Son or daughter whoever is there they too know that rebuke with the law they have sinned. Which gives then the opportunity at family devotion time to hear Christ forgiveness. Centered in that forgiveness the family grows. It is corrected. It grows together and not just as individuals.

And of course then we are trained and righteousness through scripture. Think about what that means. The family learns how to live how to act and treat one another and those outside of their family. Giving the opportunity to share God’s Word but especially to focus together and grow in the Word. Now this also offers some other opportunities. At family devotion time this is great, we can talk about subjects that you probably wouldn’t normally have with other people. Awkward conversations maybe taboo conversation but this is the place to discuss it. This is the opportunity for children for parents for grandparents whoever is there to learn what the Lord has to teach us and that even with knowing how maybe we view culture we know that God is guiding us through the Holy Spirit to live our life in Christ’s name.

So take some time to have family devotion. You’ll just be amazed how much you grow together and not only that how much you grow together in Christ.

The question: Should I have my children baptized? Is a common question.

God says through Peter in Acts:

and Peter said to them repent and be baptized. Every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promises for you and for your children and for all who are far off. (Acts 2:38-39)

Now you’re asking where are my children even sinful? How are infants even sinful? Psalm 51 verse 5 reminds us that we are conceived even in sin.

Certainly, I was guilty when I was born.
I was sinful when my mother conceived me. (Psalm 51:5)

Therefore all people need the forgiveness of sins and that is what baptism offers. The Holy Spirit brings the forgiveness of sins from the cross which Christ won for all people, yes, even children and infants.

And he himself creates faith that is the gift of the Holy Spirit. And wherever there is the forgiveness of sins God promises to give that person a new life and salvation.

So should we have our children baptized? Yes. God desires us to receive his gracious promises in baptism.

So if the question of baptism is weighing on your heart and your wondering should I have my child baptized? What are the reasons for it?

You can say: “Yes, I should have my child baptized. Because the promises which God gives to us through baptism that my child will be brought into his holy family and will be saved through Jesus Christ.”

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The funny thing about humility is that once you realize you have it, you don’t. You lose it. This is something that was said to me after another person heard me comparing myself and elevating myself to other people. I was not being humble. Jesus himself says in the parable in Luke chapter eighteen verse, nine through 14.

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable.

The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:11-14)

Are you like this, Pharisee? Comparing yourself to others? Elevating yourself, but really blind to your own prideful sin. In fact, the pride which blinds you of your imperfections between you and your neighbor and even more importantly, God. See God is divine and holy and requests and requires perfect righteousness which means you have to have perfect humility. Rather, we should be like the tax collector who confesses his sin before God, recognizing the depth of our sin saying “Lord have mercy on me a sinner.”

But why should we confess that we can’t even hold on to it? It’s because Jesus Christ went to the cross and on that cross he suffered for our pride. He even die for it. So that in fact, in his perfect humility, he would justify us before God the Father, so that we would be found humble through Christ.

If we boast in anything, let us boast in the work of our Lord Jesus Christ and what he has done for us upon the cross and how he has created in us a new humility through the forgiveness of sins and with the promise of life and salvation. And then in Christ and Christ alone, we see that we are exalted now and will be exalted for ever. Amen.

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