12:9Hebrews 12:9

Just as children gave reverence to the fathers of their flesh when they corrected them, people are much rather to be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live, for His correction is fatherly discipline.ST Aug 20, 1896+2 That subjection means full obedience and yielding of judgment to His control, even when He gives no reason and does not let His children have their own way.Lt 257, 1903, par. 9+1 His training suited to a fallen condition includes labor, hardship, care, self-denial, and even calamities, and though painful at the time it afterward yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those trained by it.ST Aug 20, 1896+3 It is for present happiness and future good that His children may share His holiness, and it is the greatest blessing they have, leading them no other way than they themselves would choose if they could see the end from the beginning.Lt 67, 1905, par. 20–21+2 Children who learn to yield their wills and obey parental authority are thereby trained to submit their wills to God's authority, while those raised without correction may find it hard to yield to the discipline taught in His word.HTL2 47.3+1

Just as children gave reverence to the fathers of the flesh when corrected, people are to be much rather in subjection to the Father of spirits and live, for His correction is fatherly discipline and accepting it leads to life.ST Aug 20, 1896+4 That subjection is more fitting than the reverence shown to earthly fathers who discipline their children, and it is for good, that those corrected may share in His holiness and be prepared for immortal life and perfected character.Lt 67, 1905, par. 20–21+1 Afflictions can serve as that discipline, with trials needed at times to loosen hold on earthly things and turn toward lasting joy beyond this world.1T 673.2–3 Chastening can bring people near to Him, as when the recent deaths of two children softened a couple's hearts and awakened their desire to change and submit to Him to lead and guide them.Ms 36, 1887, par. 7–11 Believers are therefore called to come under His discipline, repent, and be converted while there is still time.Ms 83, 1907, par. 9

That discipline and training suited to a fallen condition includes labor, hardship, forethought, care, and self-denial.GC88 67.2–3 Calamities also can serve as His discipline and call to heed Him, bringing a person under His authority unto life.Lt 173, 1905, par. 3

The discipline is painful at the time but afterward yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those trained by it.ST Aug 20, 1896 It therefore calls for trust and submission even when it is painful or unlike what was asked, through a sometimes prolonged testing that reveals what is in the heart and develops Christian character and likeness to Christ.ST Aug 20, 1896+1

Subjection requires full obedience and submission, for He does not let His children have their own way.Lt 257, 1903, par. 9 They are to obey even when He gives no reason, and refusing His discipline despite repeated instruction is following one's own way.Lt 257, 1903, par. 9 Every soul must submit to His discipline, with correction sent to those who err regardless of how highly they regard themselves, asking them to yield their judgment to His control.Lt 358, 1907, par. 12–15

Those who give themselves to His service come under His discipline and control as His children.Lt 76a, 1898, par. 1–4 By being in subjection to it through grace their talents are improved and a symmetrical, approved character is formed that secures life measuring with the life of God.Lt 76a, 1898, par. 1–4

Correction is for good, that those who submit to the Father of spirits and live may share in His holiness, and accepting His discipline prepares for immortal life and perfected character.Lt 67, 1905, par. 20–21 It serves present happiness and future good, it is the greatest blessing His children have, and He never leads any way other than they themselves would choose if they could see the end from the beginning and discern the glory of the purpose they fulfill as workers together with Him.Lt 69, 1903, par. 2 He subjects wayward children to trial and correction for that present and future good, striving by passing through trials to lead them to know Him and place trust in Him, so that even when the way seems very dark, friends seem to have forsaken them, circumstances seem against them, and hereditary tendencies to wrong strive for mastery, they are not forsaken but are looked upon with compassion and sympathy by One whose thoughts toward them are thoughts of good and not of evil and who calls them to take hold of His strength and make peace with Him.ST Dec 30, 1903

He corrects those who profess to keep His law so they will turn from sin and wickedness, and His reproof and correction refine and sanctify them, elevate them, and prepare them ultimately to be exalted to His throne.5T 662.1 Because He is leading, He brings them into circumstances that reveal hidden faults and give the chance to correct them and become fit for His service, and affliction purifies and shapes character just as refining fire purifies metal.MH 470.2–471.1 The Father of spirits disciplines the human heart to make it tender and to prepare souls to receive the impressions of the Holy Spirit, working by the careful principles of a gardener, not by violence or force but by patient, painstaking effort.Ms 158, 1902, par. 88–89 Chastisement is part of His plan in which affliction can serve good and advance service to God, so that apparent defeat or loss of usefulness may become a means by which He brings victory.AA 481.1

Trials may be needed to loosen hold on earthly things and turn toward lasting joy beyond this world.1T 673.2–3 Chastening can bring people near to Him, as when the recent deaths of two children softened a couple's hearts and awakened their desire to change and submit to Him to lead and guide them.Ms 36, 1887, par. 7–11

Children who learn to yield their wills to their parents are thereby trained to submit their wills to God and to accept the control of the Spirit of Christ, for obedience to parental authority trains submission to divine authority.HTL2 47.3+1 Childhood discipline shapes later religious experience, and those raised without correction may find it difficult to yield to the discipline taught in God's word.HTL2 47.3 Fathers and mothers are themselves under the discipline of God, and therefore when they require obedience they must correct as those who are disciplined.Ms 14, 1905, par. 12 They must not correct with hasty words, anger, sharpness of voice, hardness of heart, cruelty, severity, or injustice, but with patience, gentleness, sorrow, pity, and true religion from sanctified hearts.Ms 14, 1905, par. 12 Correcting in this way makes children kind and gentle and loving, gains their love and respect, and prepares them to be taken into the fellowship of the church.Ms 14, 1905, par. 12

Submission to the Father is connected with life, and it is taught by teaching children to obey their parents and God, since welcome into the mansions above depends on learning in this world to obey God's commands.19MR 69.4 He brought the Gaskills under discipline so they could recognize defects in themselves and learn, while their time of probation still allowed them to correct their own wrongs.Ms 8, 1875, par. 39–40 His chastening is meant to correct those who need to amend their lives, with warning that failure to change will bring severe chastening, as applied to the priest while Huss himself acknowledged being chastened.GC 105.2 The Father's chastening applies to the man under the control of the enemy of all good whose strong passions are uncontrolled and who feels no holy restraint.9MR 320.1 His envy and jealousy, outbursts of anger, and evil surmisings make him a demon in his home and he will not do the will of God, so like a rebellious child he needs to be taken in hand and disciplined and chastened, because he is ruining himself and his course is downward.9MR 320.1