Hebrews 12

God’s Discipline Proves His Love

12Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.G5105G2532G2192G4029G2254G5118G3509G3144G659G2249G659G3956G3591G2532G266G2139G5143G1223G5281G73G4295G22542We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith

. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne.G872G1519G2424G747G2532G5051G4102G3739G473G5479G4295G846G5278G4716G2706G152G5037G2523G1722G1188G2362G23163Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people

; then you won't become weary and give up.G1063G357G5278G5108G485G5259G268G1519G846G3363G2577G1590G5216G55904After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.G478G3768G478G3360G129G464G4314G2665And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children

? He said, "My child, don't make light of the LORD's discipline, and don't give up when he corrects you.G2532G1585G3874G3748G1256G5213G5613G5207G3450G5207G3643G3361G3643G3809G2962G3366G1590G1651G5259G8466For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child."

G1063G3739G2962G25G3811G1161G3146G3956G5207G3739G38587As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?G1487G5278G3809G2316G4374G5213G5613G5207G1063G5101G5207G2076G3739G3962G3811G37568If God doesn't discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.G1161G1487G2075G5565G3809G3739G3956G1096G3353G686G2075G3541G2532G3756G52079Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn't we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever

?G1534G3303G2192G3962G2257G4561G3810G2532G1788G5293G3756G4183G3123G5293G3962G4151G2532G219810For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God's discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.G1063G3303G4314G3641G2250G3811G2596G846G1380G1161G1909G4851G1519G3335G846G4111No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it's painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.G1161G3956G3756G3809G4314G3303G3918G1380G1511G5479G235G3077G1161G5305G591G1516G2590G1343G1128G1223G84612So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.G1352G461G5495G3935G2532G3886G111913Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.G2532G4160G3717G5163G5216G4228G3363G5560G1624G1161G2390G3123G2390

A Call to Listen to God

14Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.G1377G1515G3326G3956G2532G38G5565G3739G3762G3700G296215Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.G1983G3361G5100G5302G575G5485G2316G3361G5100G4491G4088G5453G507G1776G2532G1223G5026G4183G339216Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal.G3361G5100G4205G2228G952G5613G2269G3739G473G3391G1035G591G846G441517You know that afterward, when he wanted his father's blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.G1063G2467G3754G2532G3347G2309G2816G2129G593G1063G2147G3756G5117G3341G2539G1567G846G1567G3326G114418You have not come to a physical mountain

, to a place of flaming fire, darkness, gloom, and whirlwind, as the Israelites did at Mount Sinai.G1063G4334G3756G4334G3735G5584G2532G2545G4442G2532G1105G2532G4655G2532G236619For they heard an awesome trumpet blast and a voice so terrible that they begged God to stop speaking.G2532G2279G4536G2532G5456G4487G3739G191G3868G3056G4369G3361G4369G846G336120They staggered back under God's command: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death."

G1063G5342G3756G5342G1291G2579G2342G2345G3735G3036G2228G2700G100221Moses himself was so frightened at the sight that he said, "I am terrified and trembling."

G2532G3779G5398G2258G5324G3475G2036G1630G1510G2532G179022No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering.G235G4334G3735G4622G2532G4172G2198G2316G2032G2419G2532G3461G3223You have come to the assembly of God's firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect.G3831G2532G1577G4416G583G1722G3772G2532G2316G2923G3956G2532G4151G1342G504824You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.G2532G2424G3316G3501G1242G2532G129G4473G2980G2909G3844G625Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven!G991G3868G3361G2980G1063G1487G1565G5343G3756G3868G5537G1909G1093G4183G3123G2249G654G575G377226When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: "Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also."

G3739G5456G5119G4531G1093G1161G3568G1861G3004G2089G530G1473G4579G3756G1093G3440G235G2532G377227This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.G1161G2089G530G1213G3331G4531G5613G4160G2443G3361G4531G330628Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.G1352G3880G932G761G2192G5485G1223G3739G3000G2316G2102G3326G127G2532G212429For our God is a devouring fire.G2532G1063G2257G2316G2654G4442