For the Lord disciplines the one He loves,
and chastises every son whom He receives. Hebrews 12:6
What does it really mean to be a child of God? What does it mean to be in ‘sonship’ with God? One could argue that all of Mankind are His children by creation, but that certainly doesn’t make them their Father. John chapter 8 has some disturbing words spoken by Jesus telling some that their father is the devil. So if the devil is their father they certainly aren’t a ‘son’ under the heavenly Father. There is certainly a movement to have everyone extend ‘grace’ to EVERYONE. Did Jesus extend that “grace” to those who He said can’t hear the Words of God? (John 8:47) Grace is extended to ANYONE who accepts Jesus’ sacrifice for them. The problem is not everyone accepts Jesus. Many HATE Jesus.
We then should also explore the whole notion of who God disciplines and why. If God places you into any position, that position will have responsibilities. God doesn’t recognize those who are “official” (by Man’s standards or certifications) but only those He calls His. So those that are His are then given responsibilities and are put into His training, because He seeks for those to grow into spiritual maturity. This is not done by putting people into some Bible school, or by putting them into ‘organized institutional ministry’. God doesn’t work on Man’s ‘official’ side of degrees and certifications, for His school of training is something much more different than mere scholarly activity.
And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.” Hebrews 12:5-6
The word “receives” in Greek in this verse also means to admit or in other terms to ‘place into’. It can be taken as a matter of ‘position’. Being disciplined by God means His plan is to trust us when we’ve matured enough to warrant the responsibilities He wants to bestow upon us. He actually is bringing us into a state of greater and greater trust by His discipline towards us. We’re not just servants, or bits in a machine, but actually His children who He wants to become one with Him into whose hands He can give spiritual responsibilities. When we actually begin to understand this we begin to understand why He is dealing with us the way He is.
Knowing all of this that God will have His way with us .. that we can be sure of the end, and that He will bring us ‘through’ whatever state we are currently in.. for His glory.
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. ” John 15:18-19