Hebrews 12:4–11

God Trains His Children

⁴You struggle against sin. But you have not yet fought to the point of spilling your blood. ⁵You have forgotten that word of hope. It speaks to you as children. It says,

“My son, think of the Lord’s training as important.

Do not lose hope when he corrects you.

⁶The Lord trains those he loves.

He punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”

⁷Put up with hard times. God uses them to train you. He is treating you as children. What children are not trained by their parents? ⁸God trains all of his children. But what if he doesn’t train you? Then you are like children of people who weren’t married to each other. You are not truly God’s children.

⁹Besides, we have all had human parents who trained us. We respected them for it. How much more should we be trained by the Father of our spirits and live!

¹⁰Our parents trained us for a little while. They did what they thought was best. But God trains us for our good. He wants us to share in his holiness.

¹¹No training seems pleasant at the time. In fact, it seems painful. But later on it produces a harvest of godliness and peace. It does that for those who have been trained by it.