Chastening Isn't Fun

"My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives" (Heb 12:5-6)

Chastening is not fun; the word itself can make us uncomfortable. But it is so necessary. Good parents discipline children because they love them and God is a good parent.


Some of us have experienced discipline without love (which feels like abuse) and it colors the way we view discipline for most of our lives---until God changes our hearts. How does God change our hearts? Well, mostly through discipline. Discipline from God does not mean He will smack us up the side of the head with a two by four. He is not looking to PUNISH us---discipline and chastisement is not the same as punishment or retribution. Discipline is for training.

The Bible describes this process:

Hebrews 12:9-11"...we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it"

How does our Father chastise His children? It is different with each individual. Sometimes it may occur only as an inner "rebuke" or conviction that He is displeased with our sin or apathy.

He disciplines us through His Word, which is 'sharper than any two-edged sword.

Hebrews 4:12-13 (Amp) For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes

of the heart. 13 And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, naked and defenseless to the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do.

 He disciplines us through trials. How? From the Bible, we learn that, when necessary, He will lift his hand of blessing and allow difficulty and trouble to come our way, not to destroy us, but to bring us back to our knees in repentance. He also disciplines us through people rubbing us the wrong way, even other believers. The scripture tells us "iron sharpens iron".

A warning: not all trials are the result of sin. Some of our challenges may merely be trials of our faith or attacks from the enemy. If a trial is a chastening, it will be accompanied by conviction of sin and rebellion. And it will be followed by God's comfort--His arms outstretched to welcome us into His embrace, if we come to Him in repentance and humility.


Proverbs 28:13 "He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy"

He is eager to restore His blessing to us. That is His ultimate goal.


If you don't ever feel disciplined by God, don't rejoice over it because the Word says that 'Whom He loves, He disciplines' and those who are without discipline are like "illegitimate children". So, when you are disciplined by God, just know that a wonderful result is going to come from it.

If you need help or prayer, e-mail us.

 

    GOD HAS GOOD

 PLANS

 FOR YOUR

FUTURE

know what I'm doing.

 I have it all planned out--

plans to take care of you,

 not abandon you,

plans to give you

the future you hope for.

   "When you call on me,

when you come

and pray to me,

 I'll listen.

Jeremiah 29:11

(Message Bible)