Hebrews 12:4-17

4You struggle against sin, but your struggles haven’t killed you.

5You have forgotten the encouraging words that God speaks to you as his children: “My child, pay attention when the Lord disciplines you. Don’t give up when he corrects you.

6The Lord disciplines everyone he loves. He severely disciplines everyone he accepts as his child.”

7Endure your discipline. God corrects you as a father corrects his children. All children are disciplined by their fathers.

8If you aren’t disciplined like the other children, you aren’t part of the family.

9On earth we have fathers who disciplined us, and we respect them. Shouldn’t we place ourselves under the authority of God, the father of spirits, so that we will live?

10For a short time our fathers disciplined us as they thought best. Yet, God disciplines us for our own good so that we can become holy like him.

11We don’t enjoy being disciplined. It always seems to cause more pain than joy. But later on, those who learn from that discipline have peace that comes from doing what is right.

12Strengthen your tired arms and weak knees.

13Keep walking along straight paths so that your injured leg won’t get worse. Instead, let it heal.

14Try to live peacefully with everyone, and try to live holy lives, because if you don’t, you will not see the Lord.

15Make sure that everyone has kindness  from God so that bitterness doesn’t take root and grow up to cause trouble that corrupts many of you.

16Make sure that no one commits sexual sin or is as concerned about earthly things as Esau was. He sold his rights as the firstborn son for a single meal.

17You know that afterwards, when he wanted to receive the blessing that the firstborn son was to receive, he was rejected. Even though he begged and cried for the blessing, he couldn’t do anything to change what had happened.