“God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.”
Regina Brett
Passage
5and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him;
6For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.”
7It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
8But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
9Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?
10For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.
11All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Hebrews 12:5–11 (NASB95)
Background
Quote-Regina Brett (born May 31, 1956) is an American author, inspirational speaker, podcaster and newspaper columnist currently writing for The Cleveland Jewish News. Her columns are syndicated through Jewish News Service. Brett launched the podcast Little Detours with Regina Brett in 2020.
She was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for commentary in 2008 and 2009. Her first book, "God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life's Little Detours" was published in April, 2010 by Grand Central Publishing. It is now in 26 countries. Her second book, "Be the Miracle: 50 Lessons for Making the Impossible Possible", was published in 2012. Her third book, "God is Always Hiring: 50 Life Lessons for Finding Fulfilling Work," was published in 2015. All three books have been bestsellers in Poland.
Passage- The book of Hebrews is a General Epistle (Apostolic Letter). It was written mainly to the Hebrew believers. The author is anonymous, although either Paul or Barnabas was traditionally accepted as the author. It was written approximately 67 A.D. Its purpose was to present the Lord Jesus Christ as perfect and superior in comparison to anything Judaism and the old covenant had to offer. The author was writing to a group of Christians who were under intense persecution and some were contemplating a return to Judaism. He admonished them not to turn away from their only hope of salvation.
Lesson Notes
Opening Statement
It is sometimes difficult to relate to a Father in Heaven who loves us when earthly fathers or mothers treated us badly. That’s not the case for everyone but it is for some. Even when our parents were wonderful growing up we don’t always think they unerstand our situation, but God always does.
Ask: Do you believe that God the Father loves you?
Point: There are three possible answers, yes, no, and I don’t know. All three are valid.
Ask: If you answered ‘Yes,’ how do you know?
Point: Please read the following:
8The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
9By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.
10In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:8–10 (NASB95)
Ask: If you answered ‘I don’t know’ or ‘No’ what should you do?
Point: Understand that it is true and God the Father does love all of us. Please read the following:
5and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
6For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
7For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.
8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:5–8 (NASB95)
Ask: Do you see love in that passage above and where?
Point: The love is in the fact that God the Father made the first move. He came to earth as Jesus and died for us extending His hand out to us.
Ask: What if there is still doubt or unbelief?
Point: Seek the counsel of a trusted Christian brother or sister in Christ.
Ask: How does counsel from an earthly brother or sister in Christ convince us that God the Father loves us?
Point: We must remember those we trust hold that trust for a reason and not to discount the things they tell us. Please read the following:
27Had I not feared the provocation by the enemy, That their adversaries would misjudge, That they would say, “Our hand is triumphant, And the Lord has not done all this.” ’
28“For they are a nation lacking in counsel, And there is no understanding in them.
29“Would that they were wise, that they understood this, That they would discern their future!
Deuteronomy 32:27–29 (NASB95)
Ask: Scripture says seeking counsel is a good thing but I can find every piece of advice I want from human beings. How can I trust them to be right?
Point: Because you seek counsel from trusted brothers and sisters in Christ rather than worldly people. If they are not following Jesus, their counsel is not to be trusted. Please read the following:
1Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.
2The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
3And He will delight in the fear of the Lord, And He will not judge by what His eyes see, Nor make a decision by what His ears hear;
4But with righteousness He will judge the poor, And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.
Isaiah 11:1–4 (NASB95)
Ask: Is there a common theme or element to the scripture appearing in today’s lesson?
Point: Yes. Going against God’s ways is not wise and anyone who advises people to go against God is not providing loving advice. Please read the following:
29A wicked man displays a bold face, But as for the upright, he makes his way sure.
30There is no wisdom and no understanding And no counsel against the Lord.
31The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the Lord.
Proverbs 21:29–31 (NASB95)
Ask: Counsel from trusted brothers and sisters in Christ is the way but what if I can’t talk to someone else or forget something?
Point: Prayer and guidance from God the Father’s Holy Spirit is true guidance on His path. Please read the following:
25“These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you.
26“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
27“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
John 14:25–27 (NASB95)
Ask: Counsel from brothers and sisters, faith in God, looking for the Holy Spirit is great but what if I still get it wrong?
Point: God is all about forgiveness when we recognize it. Please read the following:
17‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,
18I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
19‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
20‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
Revelation 3:17–20 (NASB95)
Closing Statement
What more is there to say? God the Father loves His children. He does. John 3:16 should have come to mind at some point during this lesson. It did while writing it. We enter into God the Father’s loving embrace when we embrace Jesus Christ, His son but our admission of needing a Saviour is not what happened first. God first loved us and we know that because Jesus died on the cross well before any of us were born. However, He took that act because He already knew you and I needed Him to do it. It is in the midst of that love that we see the smiling face of the Father, and realize we should be smiling at eveyrone we meet to reflect some glimpse of God’s love to them.
Questions for the Week
Question 1 Read Job 12:12-13, Proverbs 11:14, and Proverbs 15:22
Question 2 What can we learn from Job and Solomon about counsel in those passages?
Question 3 Consider one to three people you would consider “godly brothers and sisters in Christ” as potential opinions you could seek when needed.
Question 4 Read Matthew 6:33 and as much before and after as you are lead to read.
Question 5 Contemplate what you read in that passage as it relates to seeking God’s ways through the counsel of other people.
Definitions
counsel
koun-suh
noun,plural coun·sel for 3.
1. advice; opinion or instruction given in directing the judgment or conduct of another.
2. interchange of opinions as to future procedure; consultation; deliberation.
3. Law.(used with a singular or plural verb) the advocate or advocates engaged in the direction of a cause in court; a legal adviser or counselor:Is counsel for the defense present?
4. deliberate purpose; plan; design.
5. Theology. one of the advisory declarations of Christ, considered by some Christians as not universally binding but as given for aid in attaining moral perfection.
6. Archaic. a private or secret opinion or purpose.
7. Obsolete. wisdom; prudence.
verb (used with object),coun·seled, coun·sel·ing or (especially British) coun·selled, coun·sel·ling.
8. to give advice to; advise.
9. to urge the adoption of, as a course of action; recommend (a plan, policy, etc.):He counseled patience during the crisis.
verb (used without object),coun·seled, coun·sel·ing or (especially British) coun·selled, coun·sel·ling.
10. to give counsel or advice.
11. to get or take counsel or advice.
Greek Word for Counsel
(Note the inclusion of the word purpose in the Greek definition)
27For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Acts 20:27 (KJV 1900)
Greek Strong’s Number: 1012
Greek Word: βουλή
Transliteration: boulē
Phonetic Pronunciation: boo-lay’
Root: from <G1014>
Cross Reference: TDNT - 1:633,108
Part of Speech: n f
Vine’s Words: Advice, Advise, Counsel
Usage Notes:
English Words used in KJV:
counsel 10
will 1
advise + <G5087> 1
[Total Count: 12]
from <G1014> (boulomai); volition, i.e. (object) advice, or (by implication) purpose:- + advise, counsel, will.