Hebrews 12:5-11 "And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, MY son, despise not thou the chastening of the LORD, nor faint when thou are rebuked of HIM: for whom the LORD loveth HE chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom HE receiveth. If ye endure chastening, GOD dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the FATHER chasteneth not ? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the FATHER of spirits, and live ? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but HE for our profit, that we might be partakers of HIS holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."
The chastening hand of the LORD is a loving hand - a demonstration of HIS concern for our spiritual well-being (v.6). GOD's discipline, though it will certainly cause discomfort, is to be welcomed and endured as one proof of our sonship (vv.7-8). The humble believer will not complain but, rather, will rejoice in the fact that GOD's correction is not random or without purpose. HE is the perfect FATHER WHO chastens for our good and for HIS glory; through HIS correction, we will be "partakers of HIS holiness" (vv.9-10). In the midst of whatever chastisement GOD initiates, we must not forget the "nevertheless" that goes with it: "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby" (v.11 pictured above).
What a blessed promise ! In a day when so many charismatic leaders are falsely claiming that a loving GOD would never permit HIS faithful children to suffer, we must listen to GOD's WORD and reject the teaching of those who twist the Scriptures and lead believers to think that any affliction they experience is due to their supposed lack of faith. Obviously, Christians need to have implicit belief in whatever GOD says in HIS WORD, but, in addition, they also must reject all teachings that are contrary to the Bible. Furthermore, they must remember that GOD often permits HIS children to experience deep sorrow and great sufferings not necessarily to discipline but to purify, as explained in 1st.Peter 4:12-19, pictured above. GOD allows "fiery trials" in order to strengthen our faith. Yielding to CHRIST will produce spiritual fruit that will be a blessing to ourselves and others. MHR
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.
Used with permission. www.featoday.org
https://www.fivestarchristianministries.com/salvation
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