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Few men or women have struggled against sin to the point of suffering.
Most of us give in. So, God disciplines us. God has one goal in
all of this. Listen,
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You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your
striving against sin; and you have forgotten the exhortation which
is addressed to you as sons, "MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE
DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM;
FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES
EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES. It is for discipline that you endure;
God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his
father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline,
of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate
children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to
discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather
be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined
us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines
us for our good, that we may share His holiness. All discipline
for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those
who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful
fruit of righteousness. (NASB) Hebrews 12:4-11 |
Conclusion: God desires our holiness more than he desires our comfort.
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As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts
. . . but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves
also in all your behavior; because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE
HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." (NASB) 1 Peter 1:14-16 |
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