神的管教
希伯來書十二章5至15節
5你們又忘了那勸你們如同勸兒子的話，說：我兒，你不可輕看主的管教，被他責備的時候也不可灰心；
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嗎？
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。
12所以，你們要把下垂的手、發酸的腿、挺起來；
13也要為自己的腳，把道路修直了，使瘸子不至歪腳（或作：差路），反得痊愈。
14你們要追求與眾人和睦，並要追求聖潔；非聖潔沒有人能見主。
15又要謹慎，恐怕有人失了神的恩；恐怕有毒根生出來擾亂你們，因此叫眾人沾染污穢；
信息分享
我們之所以對此感到困惑，因為我們忽略了一個事實，就是神會運用不同的方法來引領信徒學像基督；而經歷苦難便是其中一個方法。我們若明白這點，便會較容易理解這段經文。神是我們的天父，祂愛我們，凡事都會為我們的好處著想。
聖經所言的「管教」，究竟是甚麼意思呢？它是不是指到懲罰？或是凡事只向我們說「不」？
這裡所言的「管教」，基本上跟父母管教或訓練小孩的意思相仿，就是藉著糾正錯誤來引導歸正。肉身的父母看見兒女犯下嚴重錯誤，也會作出嚴厲的管教；我們的天父也是一樣。
神經常會藉著人生的種種境遇來管教我們。例如，神讓我們患病，藉此來提醒我們要注意健康。
我們通常會怎樣回應神的管教呢？希伯來書的作者指出我們可能有以下幾種反應：
輕看管教──第5節。
感到灰心──第5節。
產生苦毒──第15節。
從管教中得益──第5至12節。
總而言之，作者是要勸勉我們說：「你們不再是小孩子，已經長大成人，應該明白父親為何要管教你、懲罰你或鍛練你。你要信靠和仰望你的天父，相信發生在你身上的一切事情，都是為了豐富你的人生和使你的靈命成長。」
反思：
我的天父當然知道甚麼是對我有益的，祂在我身上的一切計劃，都是為了愛我和建立我。
DISCIPLINE FOR GOD'S CHILDREN
Hebrews 12:5-15
5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
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.
12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,
13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
Message
Why does God allow suffering? Sometimes those who seem to be the best Christians suffer more than others. Why?
One answer to that difficult question is that we fail to realise that God uses various methods to bring about Christ-likeness. Suffering is one of his methods. If we keep that in mind we will understand this passage more clearly. God loves us. He is our heavenly Father who has our best interest at heart.
What do the words 'chastening' and 'discipline' mean? Is chastening only punishment? Is discipline only saying 'no'?
The words are much the same and refer in the first place to child training or education by means of correction. There are times when that correction needs to be severe. That is true for earthly parents. It is certainly true of our heavenly Father.
God trains largely through the lessons we learn under various circumstances. He may use sickness but that is often caused by us neglecting our bodies so we can't blame God for that.
What should be our reaction to God's training? The writer to the Hebrews says:
We can despise it (or regard it lightly) - verse 5.
We can lose heart or faint because of it- verse 5.
We can become bitter- verse 15.
We can be helped by it- verses 5-12.
The writer also says 'You are no longer children who don't understand why parents punish, correct or train you. You are adults now. Whatever happens to you, look beyond it to God. That will bring enrichment to your lives and growth in your souls.'
A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER:
My heavenly Father always knows what is best for me and is planning in love for me.