In order to live God’s best, we must be comfortable with God’s discipline. God’s discipline curtails destruction, requires both word and action, expresses His love for us, teaches us obedience, Short-term pain and long-term gain. The Message Bible paraphrase of Hebrews 12:4-11 helps to discern these five distinct characteristics of God’s discipline through transparent lens. The Author wrote, “In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through—all that bloodshed! So, don’t feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either. It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.” Perspective is everything and God’s discipline is an expression of God’s love and through it we are empowered and equipped to live God’s best.