父亲的管教

“我儿，你不可轻看耶和华的管教…因为耶和华所爱的，他必责备。正如父亲责备所喜爱的儿子。” - 箴 3:11-12

圣经向我们显明，神与我们互动的最常见的一个方式是把我们当作祂的儿女来称呼和对待。

但是，“耶和华所爱的，他必责备。”是什么意思呢？当我们想到管教时，我们可能想到的是严厉的话、后果和对不良行为的惩罚。父母有时会以这种方式管教他们的孩子，但神会对我们这样做吗？

希伯来书的作者对此作了一些说明。希伯来书第12章引用了箴言中的这些经文，并鼓励读者“你们所忍受的，是神管教你们，待你们如同待儿子。”（来 12:7）。作者甚至说，如果我们不受神的管教，就不是神的合法儿女。

但这种管教是什么样子的呢？是透过困苦。神对祂儿女的管教往往是让他们忍受艰难、困苦和考验。因此，“管教”与其说是给不良行为的后果，不如说是模塑和造就我们，使我们完全依赖神，完全信靠祂。

想想旷野里的耶稣（太 4:1-11）。那是天父派来“训练”祂儿子的试炼——显明祂可以依赖和完全信靠天父。今天，你的天父是如何管教、训练你的呢？

慈爱的父亲，感谢你接纳我们成为你的儿女。引导我们忍受试炼，并坚固我们在一切环境下信靠和倚赖你。阿们。

11我儿，你不可轻看耶和华的管教，也不可厌烦他的责备。
12因为耶和华所爱的，他必责备，正如父亲责备所喜爱的儿子。

A Father's Discipline

"My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline . . . because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in." - Proverbs 3:11-12

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The Bible shows that one of the most common ways God interacts with us is by calling and treating us as his children.

But what does it mean that "the LORD disciplines those he loves"? When we think about discipline, we may be reminded of harsh words, consequences, and punishment for bad behavior. Parents sometimes discipline their children in those ways, but does God do that with us?

The writer of Hebrews sheds some light on this. Hebrews 12 quotes these verses from Proverbs and encourages listeners to "endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children" (Hebrews 12:7). The writer even says we are not legitimate sons and daughters of God if we are not disciplined by him.

But what does this discipline look like? Hardship. God most often disciplines his children by allowing them to endure hardship, difficulties, and trials. So "discipline" is less about giving consequences for bad behavior and more about shaping and forming us to depend on God fully and to trust him completely.

Think about Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). That was a trial sent by the Father to "discipline" his Son—showing that he could depend on and fully trust the Father. How might your heavenly Father be disciplining you today?

Prayer

Loving Father, thank you for adopting us as your children. Guide us to endure trials, and strengthen us to trust and depend on you in all situations. Amen.