圣经的重要信息：管教--一个你不喜欢的词
希伯来书十二章1至11节
1我们既有这许多的见证人，如同云彩围着我们，就当放下各样的重担，脱去容易缠累我们的罪，存心忍耐，奔那摆在我们前头的路程，
2仰望为我们信心创始成终的耶稣（或作：仰望那将真道创始成终的耶稣）。他因那摆在前面的喜乐，就轻看羞辱，忍受了十字架的苦难，便坐在神宝座的右边。
3那忍受罪人这样顶撞的，你们要思想，免得疲倦灰心。
4你们与罪恶相争，还没有抵挡到流血的地步。
5你们又忘了那劝你们如同劝儿子的话，说：我儿，你不可轻看主的管教，被他责备的时候也不可灰心；
6因为主所爱的，他必管教，又鞭打凡所收纳的儿子。
7你们所忍受的，是神管教你们，待你们如同待儿子。焉有儿子不被父亲管教的呢？
8管教原是众子所共受的，你们若不受管教，就是私子，不是儿子了。
9再者，我们曾有生身的父管教我们，我们尚且敬重他，何况万灵的父，我们岂不更当顺服他得生么？
10生身的父都是暂随己意管教我们；惟有万灵的父管教我们，是要我们得益处，使我们在他的圣洁上有分。
11凡管教的事，当时不觉得快乐，反觉得愁苦；后来却为那经练过的人结出平安的果子，就是义。
信息分享
我们今天要谈到的这个词，或许也是我们不喜欢听见，当然更不愿意经历的。可是，它在旧约圣经里经常出现；在新约里，也以不同的形式出现过多次。单是在今天选读的经文中，这个叫「管教」的词便出现了10次。英文KJV版本中文译作「使……内疚/懊悔」。无论哪个版本，都不是讨人喜欢的词。
「管教」一词的原意是「教导孩童」。惩罚是教导孩童的唯一方式吗？当然不是。做父母的，如果只懂得用惩罚来管教儿女，他们只能算是虐待儿女。
教导孩童包括很多方面，例如教诲、劝勉、指导等。唯有这些教导方式都不起作用的时候，惩罚才会派上用场。
我们的天父也会管教祂的儿女，但只为了一个确切的目标：使我们长成祂儿子耶稣基督的模样。因此，当我们随己意而行的时候，祂不会袖手旁观。记得大卫的话吗？「黑夜白日，你的手在我身上沉重。」（诗卅二4）
今天的经文告诉我们，神必管教祂所爱的儿女。我们要记着是谁在管教我们，既然祂是我们的父神，祂必知道甚么对我们最好，而祂的管教永远是出于爱。
我们年少时受肉身父亲的管教，地上父亲所知的毕竟有限（10节）。神对我们的管教是一生一世的，祂有完全的智慧。地上父亲为的是我们的今生；天父所看的，却不但是我们的今生，还有永恒的将来。祂岂不是更值得我们信靠吗？
今日经文：
「因为主所爱的，祂必管教，又鞭打凡所收纳的儿子。」（来十二6）
GREAT WORDS OF THE BIBLE: CHASTENING - A word we may not like
Hebrews 12:1-11
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.
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.
Message
Here is a word we may not like to hear and certainly would rather not experience it. Occurring frequently in the Old Testament, it is also spoken of in various ways in the New Testament. In today's reading, the word 'discipline' is used 10 times. In the KJV, the word is 'chastening'. Either word is something not many people like.
But the word in the original actually means 'child training'. Is punishment the only kind of training? Certainly not. Any parent who believes that could only be described as sadistic.
Child training has many aspects. Guidance, counsel, and instruction are all included. Only when continued disregard for those important parts of training does punishment in one form or another enter into it.
Our Heavenly Father does discipline His children but with a definite purpose in mind - to make us more like His Son, Jesus Christ. He doesn't let us go along on our own road without doing something about it. What did David say? 'Day and night your hand was heavy upon me. ' (Psalm 32:4)
Our reading speaks of the Lord disciplining those He loves. We need to remember who is doing the disciplining. If it is the Lord, then He obviously knows what is best for us. And it would always be done in love.
We all had fathers for a few short years (v.10) and their knowledge was imperfect. God will discipline us through our whole life. His knowledge is divinely complete. Our father's aim is our earthly future, while God's aim includes both our earthly and heavenly future. Why don't we trust Him more?
A VERSE FOR TODAY: Because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son. (Hebrews12:6)