There are times when I read the bible, that I come across a passage and it reads one way, but I have a feeling it means something different.
For example I was thinking about the topic of perseverance, and how perseverance is only necessary for achieving a desired end. Perseverance isn’t about punishment. And I thought about the Hebrews 12:7 which in the NIV reads:
“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?”
The NIV reads, endure “hardship” as discipline. To me that reads that every trial you face is from God to discipline you. Now this framework of thinking, is what produces the victim mentality. If I view every situation I encounter as part of God’s plan, then I believe that I must accept everything as it comes. If I believe everything good or bad is from God then I will not take action to affect change. I will suffer through it. Which is where the “Life is hard” mentality comes from.
In John 10:10 Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
James 1:16-18 says, “ Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”
The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. You never want to attribute to God what was born from hell. Nor do you want to sit and suffer when you have been given the ability, duties and responsibility to take action and do the work of the father that correctly represent the His will, “On earth as it is in heaven”.
One way to seek out understanding in the bible is to use multiple translations. Using the bible app on your phone makes this very easy. For example I looked up Hebrews 12:7 in the NKJV and the AMP version. Here’s how they read:
“If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons” NKJV
“You must submit to [correction for the purpose of] discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons.” AMP
NIV used the word hardship. NKJV used Chastening. AMP used correction. Chastening and correction are very specific. You get corrected when your course is charted in the wrong direction.
If one of my kids is working on a project and begins to get frustrated and is about to destroy what they were working to create. I would correct them. The mentality of quitting when you run into difficult problems does not produce achievement. You will never reach your desired end. So I will correct the pattern of think to operate from a place of function. Function is a mentality of understanding that problem solving is a vital necessity to life. The only way to develop problem solving skills, is to solve some problems. Which means you have to stick with your project long enough to see it to completion.
Correction is not about being destroyed by God. It’s about learning how to function. Correction is necessary when we operate from a malfunction. Malfunction produces death. Function produces life.
Never attribute to God what originated from hell. Change the way you think, Change your life!