7. Put up with hard times. God uses them to train you. He is treating you as children. What children are not trained by their parents?
8. God trains all of his children. But what if he doesn't train you? Then you are like children of people who weren't married to each other. You are not truly God's children.
9. Besides, we have all had human parents who trained us. We respected them for it. How much more should we be trained by the Father of our spirits and live!
10. Our parents trained us for a little while. They did what they thought was best. But God trains us for our good. He wants us to share in his holiness.
11. No training seems pleasant at the time. In fact, it seems painful. But later on it produces a harvest of godliness and peace. It does that for those who have been trained by it.
12. So lift your sagging arms. Strengthen your weak knees.
13. "Make level paths for your feet to walk on." (Proverbs 4:26) Then those who have trouble walking won't be disabled. Instead, they will be healed.
14. Try your best to live in peace with everyone. Try to be holy. Without holiness no one will see the Lord.
15. Be sure that no one misses God's grace. See to it that a bitter plant doesn't grow up. If it does, it will cause trouble. And it will pollute many people.
16. See to it that no one commits sexual sins. See to it that no one is godless like Esau. He sold the rights to what he would receive as the oldest son. He sold them for a single meal.
17. As you know, after that he wanted to receive his father's blessing. But he was turned away. With tears he tried to get the blessing. But he couldn't get his father to change his mind.
18. You haven't come to a mountain that can be touched. You haven't come to a mountain that is burning with fire. You haven't come to darkness, gloom and storm.
19. You haven't come to a blast from God's trumpet. You haven't come to a voice speaking to you. When people heard that voice long ago, they begged it not to say anything more to them.
20. What God commanded was too much for them. He said, "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be killed with stones." (Exodus 19:12,13)