Hebrews 12:11 (NKJV)

Bible Commentary

Hebrews 12:11 is a Bible verse that talks about the discipline of God.

The enemy has an entry into our life if part of our armor is missing. Ephesians 6:11 says, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

There are times when I believed the disciplinary spirit of God has come and asked me to surrender my body to some form of sickness. There have been so many times God has taught me some form of humility or some other lesson in the past when I’ve been sick. So, my belief was that He needed sickness to get me where I needed to be, spiritually speaking.

The Bible does call us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). Jesus called us to lose our life for the sake of the Gospel (Mark 8:35). Does that mean accepting sickness as part of God’s plan, and being willing to be a martyr for Christ? I think of all the soldiers who have given their lives. Should we be any different in our willingness, our faith?

But wait. Let’s make sure our willingness is out of our love for our heavenly Father, and not out of our pride, thinking that He needs us and our bodies to fulfill what Jesus has already accomplished on the cross. Only Jesus was and ever will be worthy.

Which father are we listening to?

If we are operating in the full covering of Jesus Christ (using his mind, will and emotions), then our whole armor is in place and we hear our Heavenly Father. However, if there is even a hint of pride in our thinking that God needs a calamity of sickness or loss in our life to bring about His will, then we are listening to the father of lies.

John 8:43-45

Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. ⁴⁴ You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

There can be a very confusing similarity between our Heavenly Father’s discipline and the devil’s temptation. The devil wants to punish us. God wants to discipline us. Discipline brings life. Punishment brings death and destruction.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18 (NIV)

If we accept the devil’s temptation out of our “sacrifice” for God because we think He needs it, then we have walked right into the devil’s trap. We aligned ourselves with the wrong father out of pride (the missing piece of armor) and sickness reaches our bodies.

If we examine our hearts and determine where our thinking is, we can better discern the voice we are hearing and stand fast under the whole covering of Jesus Christ, knowing He alone was worthy and God does not need a calamity or sickness in our life to bring about His will.

Galatians 5:1 (NIV) It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Revelation 12:11 (NIV) They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony

Our human flesh wants to glory in our suffering. Be careful. Only Jesus was worthy. We have nothing holy to offer God apart from Jesus Christ within us.

Study Hebrews 12:11 to know the truth about God’s discipline and love for you.

Father, thank You for Your Holy Son. Only He was the perfect sacrifice. He shed His blood and gave His life so that we could partake of His perfect health and body. He was and is and will ever be, holy. Lord, give us wisdom to discern the devil’s attempts to sound like You and be like You. Help us to know You so intimately that we can recognize the truth from the lies. Help us keep our whole armor in place, so there will be no way for the enemy to enter. Thank You, Father. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

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