As God’s children, believers are subject to His correction just as much as children are to their earthly fathers. When we do something wrong or harmful, God chastens us. It’s painful when we’re going through it, but it’s not punishment. Chastening is His way of lovingly dealing with our sins to burn out all impurities in us, including the sin of self-dependence.
Making a mistake brings consequences we won’t like; this happens with everyone. The difference between Christians and the world is that the unsaved aren’t even in His sight to be chastened. They’re not His children; there is therefore no purification process to burn out self-reliance. We who have been quickened were formerly dead in trespasses and sins.
God corrects us out of love; this is something we can expect and mustn’t run from. No chastening seems joyful in the present, but afterward, it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Paul reminded the Hebrews not to despise the chastening of the Lord, or faint when He rebuked them. God loves whom He chastens; this is His way of dealing with sons and daughters.
When God deals with us this way, we can be thankful in the knowledge that He’s pruning from us things that need to be cut away. Under the law, God was a judge who punished transgressors; under grace, He’s our heavenly Father. The wages of sin is death; thankfully, we’re not under the law, but under grace.
Being God’s sons and daughters doesn’t excuse us from going through painful times; all who live godly will suffer persecution. However, when we’re struggling with something, God uses those tough times to teach us to depend on Him, not on ourselves. As many as He loves, He rebukes and chastens. This is cause for rejoicing among God’s people.
Prayer:
Lord, You’re with Your children all the time and in every situation, even in adversity and persecution. You chasten us when necessary so that we’ll grow spiritually and learn to depend on You. We’re thankful for this. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Scriptures:
Ephesians 2:1
Hebrews 12:11, NKJV
Hebrews 12:5-7
Romans 6:14, 23
2 Timothy 3:12
Revelation 3:19