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希伯来书：12:8-10: 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。
很久以前当我们的孩子还很小的时候，我太太的几个朋友请她帮忙在白天照看孩子。我有时候回家吃午饭，当我的妻子在刷碗、打扫厨房的时候，我就会和孩子们一起玩耍。有一件事情让我非常感谢我太太，她一直在家照看孩子，直到他们开始上学。我没有像管教自己的孩子那样去管教其他的孩子。事实上，我对自己的孩子更严厉一些，因为我更了解他们。我知道自己什么时候该严厉，什么时候该温和。但对其他的孩子就不同了，因为我无法从一个父亲的角度了解他们。
我们的天父管教我们如同管教自己的孩子，他爱我们是为了耶稣的缘故，让我们藉着洗礼得了儿子的名分。作为父母我们必须承认，在抚养孩子方面我们是有过失甚至是失败的。我常常向天父承认我作为父母的疏忽。我们的天父其实就像一个非常好的生身父亲，只是还要好上1000倍。他知道何时该严厉，何时该温柔。他加给我们的担子是我们能背负的，即便有时看起来有些重。他使我们经历恰当的苦难使我们信靠他，但又不至于灰心失望。而且他总是藉着圣经上的话对我们说话，充满了慈爱和信实。今天的经文使我们确信天父的爱是完美的，即使在他管教我们的时候也是如此。
祷告：亲爱的阿爸父啊，谢谢你因为耶稣的缘故使我属于你，并接纳我成为你亲爱的孩子。你一直是我完美的父。当我需要你的时候，你总是在我身边。你管教我是出于慈爱而不是愤怒，这样我就能在你的圣洁上有分。请在今日的每一刻都提醒我，我是你亲爱的孩子，好叫我在一切所做的事上都能荣耀你。阿们。
Hebrews 12: 8 If you are not disciplined (and all of us have received it), then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 In addition, we have earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not submit even more to the Father of the spirits and live? 10 They disciplined us for a little while, according to what seemed best to them, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may have a share in his holiness.
A long time ago, when we had little children at home, my wife did some daycare for a few friends. Sometimes, when I came home for lunch, I would play with the children while Linda did the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen. I noticed something that made me thankful that my wife stayed home with our children until they went to school. I didn’t discipline the children in our care the same way I disciplined my own. I was actually firmer with my own children, because I knew them intimately. I knew when I had to be firm and when I could be more gentle. That wasn’t true of the other children, because I didn’t know them as a Father.
Our heavenly Father disciplines us as his own dear children, dearly loved for Jesus’ sake, adopted to be his own in baptism. All of us as parents admit to our faults and failings in raising our children. I have often confessed my neglect as a parent to my heavenly Father. Our heavenly Father is like a really good earthly father, only a thousand times better. He knows when to be firm and when to be gentle. He lays burdens on us that we are able to bear, even though the load sometimes seems very heavy. He gives us just enough trouble to make us trust in him, but not so much that we despair. And always he speaks his words of love and assurance to us through his Word. The words above do just that for us today. They assure us of our Father’s perfect love even as he disciplines us. Prayer: Dear Father, abba Father, thank you for making me your own and accepting me as your dearly loved child for Jesus’ sake. You have been my perfect Father. You are always there when I need you. You discipline me in love and not in anger, so that I might share in your holiness. Remind me every moment today that I am your dear child, so that in all I do, I may give you glory. Amen.