聖經的重要信息：管教--我們如何回應
希伯來書十二章6至11節
6因為主所愛的，他必管教，又鞭打凡所收納的兒子。
7你們所忍受的，是神管教你們，待你們如同待兒子。焉有兒子不被父親管教的呢？
8管教原是眾子所共受的，你們若不受管教，就是私子，不是兒子了。
9再者，我們曾有生身的父管教我們，我們尚且敬重他，何況萬靈的父，我們豈不更當順服他得生麼？
10生身的父都是暫隨己意管教我們；惟有萬靈的父管教我們，是要我們得益處，使我們在他的聖潔上有分。
11凡管教的事，當時不覺得快樂，反覺得愁苦；後來卻為那經練過的人結出平安的果子，就是義。
信息分享
另一些人會問：「神會不會因為我以前犯的錯懲罰我？」這樣的理解也不正確。但是，當神嚴厲的管教臨到的時候，我們的確需要以正確的態度來回應。
今天的經文提到三種態度。第一種是「輕看」管教（6節）。英文KJV版本譯作「藐視」。倘若我們身體的某部分出現痛楚，我們卻漠然不理，便忽略了身體向我們發出的訊號。同樣地，當神用祂的話語責備我們，或是透過某些痛苦的經歷管教我們，我們卻置諸不理，我們就真的有禍了。
第二種態度是「灰心」（6節）。英文KJV版本譯作「失去勇氣」。我們經歷管教的時候，很容易會沉溺在自憐當中，抱怨神容易，賺得別人的同情也不難。然而，神要的卻是我們在當中獲益，得堅固，因為那難處是祂為我們的好處所容許的。
第三種態度是我們可以從管教中獲益（11節）。在難處中我們也許不好過，從來嚴厲的管教都不容易接受。但這樣的管教終會結出「義」的果子，也使神的旨意得以成就。而這樣的好處，唯有那些願意順服、帶著信心和喜樂接受神管教的人，才能得著。
我們的態度如何？輕看神嚴厲的管教？灰心？自憐？或是從中獲益？這在乎我們的抉擇。當然，神必幫助我們。祂會藉著內住的聖靈，賜我們力量，使我們能忍受管教所帶來的苦楚，並藉此而獲益，生命變得更豐盛。你會向祂祈求在我們裡面並為著我們作工嗎？
牢記：
神的責備是出自於愛，而不是怒氣。
GREAT WORDS OF THE BIBLE: CHASTENING - Our Attitude to the Lord's Discipline
Hebrews 12:6-11
6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.
11 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.
Message
Other people ask, 'Do you think the Lord is punishing me for what I did years ago?' Both are wrong but we do need to have a right attitude when it appears that the Lord is using strong discipline on us.
There are three attitudes mentioned in our reading today. First, we can make light of it (v.6) 'Despise it' are the words in the KJV. If we ignore physical pain, we are going past one of nature's danger signals. If we take no notice when God is speaking strongly, in conviction or in suffering, we are in real danger.
Second, we can lose heart. (v.6) 'Faint under it' is the wording of the KJV. It is easy to indulge in self pity. It is easy to blame God. It is easy to cry on everyone's shoulder. What God wants is for us to be strengthened and helped by it. He has allowed it for our good.
Third, we can benefit from it. (v.11) It may not seem to be a very happy situation. No strong discipline ever is. It will eventually bring about 'a harvest of righteousness' and that will fulfill God's purpose. That will only be so for those who enter into its meaning with surrender, faith and joy.
What is our attitude? Make light of God's strong discipline? Lose heart? Give way to self pity? Or benefit from it? The choice is ours, but God will help us even in this. By His indwelling Spirit, he will give us the strength to endure, to be blessed and be enriched by it all. Can we ask Him to do that in us and for us?
A LINE FOR TODAY: In love and not in anger all His chastening come.