Hebrews 5:8-9

Granddaughter Emily had just spent a delightful three hours with me at work. She had greeted customers, played with seeds, ridden her trike, loved her doll, colored a picture, stacked rolls of cash register tape, eaten two snacks and played with blocks. In other words, she was having a pretty good time! But when her mommy came to pick her up, Emily made two big mistakes. The first mistake happened when her mommy told her it was time to go home and to pick up her blocks. The dear, sweet little princess burst into tears and defiantly threw her doll and blanket on the floor! The second mistake happened when she refused to pick up the blocks!

What happened next was a battle of the wills; Mommy was going to win and Princess was not about to lose! I had to think of the little rhyme ". . . and when she was good, she was very, very good, and when she was bad she was horrid!"

Later that evening as I was having my devotions, I happened to read the above verses from Hebrews 5: 8-9. Jesus had to learn obedience, and He learned it by what He suffered. He was a son, and a son learns obedience through the discipline of his parent(s).

As I reflected on these verses and the day’s event, I saw some good parallels for us in our Christian walk. Emily learned a lesson in obedience, and she suffered. She did not enjoy the lesson, but there had to be not only an attitude adjustment but also the breaking of a stubborn will in order for Emily to learn cheerful obedience.

I thought of the verses in Hebrews 12: 5-6, "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives." We are not to despise or be discouraged by discipline or correction from our heavenly Father! God disciplines as a loving Father, and no child of His is exempted from that correction.

Verses 11 sums the lesson up, "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." What makes Emily so sweet? She is learning some painful lessons. God wants to see in me the spirit of love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, patience, self-control, and goodness. From Philippians I read...

Do all things without complaining.

Rejoice in the Lord always.

The peace of God that passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds

Let your gentleness to known to all men.

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit.

Think on things noble, just, lovely, and pure.

Ouch! I wasn’t born to have patience and gentleness, and I certainly won’t learn these by osmosis.

"And being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you (me) will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6.