RPG Adults
GOD’S CHASTISEMENT IN LOVE
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
Hebrews 12:1-13
Proverbs 3:11-12
“My son, despise not the
chastening of the LORD …”
GOD’S CHASTISEMENT IN LOVE
Chastisement is a means by which parents correct their wayward children. The exhortation of the writer here spoke as to children that they would not despise chastening. He said that the Lord chastens everyone whom He loves. God deals with us as sons. The child knows that his parents love him and any chastisement is meant for correction and to make him a better person. This is a fact in family relations. The writer reasoned that if this was the case, we as God’s children ought to “be in subjection unto the Father of spirits” (Heb 12:9). This is to say that God’s children ought to be discerning to know when God speaks to them through chastisement. Chastening serves to restore our fellowship with Him. Sin destroys holiness and our fellowship with God, and chastisement is meant to restore that desirable status. The writer added that chastening is not joyous but afterwards it yields the fruit of righteousness. Chastisement awakens us to make our feeble hands and knees active. It makes straight the path of our feet, and the lame to be healed (Heb 12:13).
Discipline and endurance with godly fear is a service that is acceptable to God. The exhortation is that God will honour our service for Him and has reserved for us a heavenly abode. The Apostle John was one of the prominent disciples of Christ. He and his brother had made a request to Jesus that each of them be made to sit at the left and right hand of Christ. Jesus told them that it was not for Him to give them their request. Later they learnt the lesson of life the hard way.
THOUGHT: Chastisement is good for me.
PRAYER: Father, may I learn to endure when Thou chastiseth me.