Hebrews 12:7-11; Proverbs 15:5, 10, 31, 32

Hebrews 12

⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline —then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹ Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! ¹⁰ They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Discipline does not necessarily mean punishment. God disciplines ALL his children - obedient ones and otherwise - because he loves us all.

When I face whatever hardship, I should remember that God is allowing me to go thru it - it is not by accident or coincidence. Discipline is never pleasant but it will in the end make me a much better child of God. 

Proverbs 15

⁵ A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
    but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. 

 ¹⁰ Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;
    the one who hates correction will die. 

 ³¹ Whoever heeds life-giving correction
    will be at home among the wise.

 ³² Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,
    but the one who heeds correction gains understanding.

These Proverbs also reminded me the inportance of having the humility to accept correction - that I am far from perfect, and God can use other people to correct me.  I pray that I may be able to swallow my pride and allow myself to be corrected - for his glory.

Hebrews 11:39-40

³⁹ These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, ⁴⁰ since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. 

God has a plan for me - not the temporal material things, but something that will last forever and is worth so much more than what this world can give.

I need to have faith in God - and set my mind on things above, not things of this world.

Hebrews 11:5-6

⁵ By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. ⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

I've always been impressed by Enoch - he walked soooo close to God that God decided to just take him away. His faith was so strong that he is one of the 2 people up to this stage who have never tasted death.

I really hope to build up my faith and walk close to God in the same way. Yes, without faith, I can never please God. That's impossible.