08/14/2023
Have we ever stopped to consider that not every misfortune that we face in life is a Job moment, and put upon us by Satan? Some are just natural occurrences of living out our lives in this world while we exercise the lessons of faith that we have learned while walking through it with the Lord... And then, there are those which are the correction of our Father as he chastises us.
“and ye have forgotten the exhortation which reasoneth with you as with sons, My son, regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord, Nor faint when thou art reproved of him; For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”
Hebrews 12:5-6 ASV
We handle God's gifts easily, but when it comes to being corrected we are like our own children and don't like the idea of punishment or being held accountable for our actions. The word "No" is one that ruffles our feathers... isn't it? But correction is a necessary part of learning. Sometimes we take the keys to the car from a teenage child to make a point, and sometimes God does certain things to get our attention as well.
“It is for chastening that ye endure; God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father chasteneth not?”
Hebrews 12:7 ASV
I don't recall my parents using this expression, but it was implied in how they administered punishment; we have all heard it though... "This is going to hurt me more than it does you". These words have become cliché, but now, having been a parent myself, and having had to dole out punishment, I find there is great truth in them. No parent likes to discipline their child, but it is nonetheless a necessary part of parenting. Those who neglect it are doing harm to their children. When we take away a child’s phone they are inconvenienced, but we can’t contact them when we need them either, and when we confiscate the keys to their car we are required to drive them wherever they must go.
“He that spareth his rod hateth his son; But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”
Proverbs 13:24 ASV
I am not talking about child abuse this morning, or spiritual abuse by an out of control God, but rather about measured punishment meant to instruct and dissuade. No good parent relishes punishing their child, and God hates to chasten us as well. Both would love for their children to obey and be good at all times, but life is often learned by mistakes, and so is holiness.
We correct those we care for. If we didn't love our children then we would care less about what they did; we would turn them out and let them find their own way. God is no exception because, in fact, He is our example in parenting. This is the difference between a Deist and a true believer in God and Jesus Christ. A Deist believes that God created the universe, and then walked away... leaving it to its own devices and spinning towards its own conclusion. This is not God the Father of Jesus Christ, and not the God that instructs His children and corrects them when they stray from the path of righteousness.
“But if ye are without chastening, whereof all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”
Hebrews 12:8 ASV
We are not spiritual orphans or bastards. God loves us enough to chasten us when we have strayed from the path of righteousness. He corrects us with a firm but compassionate hand. We are sons and daughters of the One True God, and He will not forsake us. This is repeated over and over in the Bible let's read three verses in support of this...
“And Jehovah, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 ASV
“Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee.”
Hebrews 13:5 ASV
“teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
Matthew 28:20 ASV
So God loves us, He will not forsake us, and yes... He will chasten us. Not every hardship or suffering is of Satan. Not every ill that befalls us is of the world. Sometimes, God chastens us in the course of teaching and loving us. Do we know Him well enough to recognize His hand? Do we even think to look for it when we face difficulty in our lives?
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for loving me enough to chasten me. I thank you for all the lessons you teach me, but when I have strayed in some mighty way I thank you for bringing me back into righteous alignment with your will by firm correction. You have said that you will never forsake me, and father I love you for your faithfulness, but never let me take you for granted or feel that you don't care about the things I do, or the harm that befalls me... never let me use the promise of "always" against you.
Jesus, your life, death, and resurrection shows us what it means to be a good Son... a good child. We thank you for the way you lived your life, and we ask that you always be with us as we stumble through our attempts at being like you. We thank you for the Holy Spirit and the understanding that He brings us, but especially for the knowledge of our chastening and how it is administered in love. Then Lord, once we have been corrected, we thank you for leading us before the Father and calling us your heirs and joint heirs.
Holy Father, we praise you for never abandoning us, for walking with us through every valley, and for never leaving us as bastards or orphans, but loving and caring enough to adopt us as your children. You are our Father, and in your presence we are taught, corrected, and completed. Great is your righteous hand that holds us accountable, and corrects our mistakes, or redirects our wayward ways. Praised be your name always, and in all things… even in our moments of chastisement.
Rich Forbes