Hebrews 12:3-13 - Fatherly Discipline

³ Now think about how Jesus endured such opposition against Himself from sinners, so that you do not grow weary and become discouraged [yourself]. ⁴ You have not yet resisted to the point of [shedding] blood in your struggle against sin. ⁵ And have you forgotten the exhortation that was addressed to you as sons? [Prov. 3:11f says], "My son, do not take the discipline of the Lord lightly, and do not get discouraged when He rebukes you. ⁶ For the Lord disciplines those He loves, and punishes every child He accepts."

⁷ [For the suffering] you are enduring [is] for your discipline. God is dealing with you as He does with [His] children, for what child is not disciplined by his father? ⁸ But if you do not receive [such] discipline, like all of us do, then you are illegitimate children and not true children. ⁹ Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us and we respected them [for it]; should we not much rather submit to the Father of our spirits [i.e., God], so we can live [spiritually]? ¹⁰ For our human fathers disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them; but God disciplines us for our [spiritual] good, so that we may share in His holiness. ¹¹ No discipline seems pleasant, but painful, at the time [it is received], yet later on it produces a crop of peace and righteousness in [the lives of] those who have been trained by it.

¹² Therefore, [Prov. 4:26 says], "Strengthen your limp hands and weak knees; ¹³ make straight paths for your feet," so that crippled limbs will not remain [permanently] disabled, but rather will be healed. [Note: The idea here is "remove all barriers to spiritual growth so you can live a faithful life"].