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The
Chastening of the Lord
I can remember, and am thankful for, the training and instruction that I
received as a child from my parents. On most occasions the discipline
was instructional, Mom and Dad telling me what I should do, and when and
where and how. They were quick to commend and compliment me when I’d
done right. (What better reward could a child have than his parents’
praise?)
Every so often, however, it became necessary for their training
to become corrective in nature. Disobedience and bad behavior must be
punished, and at times (I know this is hard to believe, folks) Mike
misbehaved. Sometimes a stern reprimand would be more than enough. “You
ought to be ashamed of yourself” were words that could sting my
conscience after a misdeed.
But sometimes more than words were necessary. I can remember my
mother employing a wide variety of punishments, depending on the crime
I’d committed -- everything from standing me in the corner, to washing
my mouth out with soap, to giving me a few smacks on the hand with her
kitchen spatula. These punishments were certainly not pleasant to
experience -- but then, they weren’t meant to be pleasant. My parents
were teaching me that obedience and disobedience each had its 'rewards.'
They were not only teaching me to choose obedience, but as well teaching
me to desire its choice. They were bringing me up in the way I should
go, training me to be a better person (Proverbs 22:6).
We are told that our heavenly Father disciplines His children,
that He “deals with [us] as with sons” (Hebrews 12:7). As
in earthly families, most of the training is (or should be)
instructional in nature. He has revealed His written word to His
children for them to read, study and obey. He is pleased when His
children obey. He desires to say to them, “Well done.” Truly, there will
be no greater reward than if we hear Him say in the final day, “Well
done, good and faithful servant... Enter into the joy of your lord”
(Matthew 25:21).
How happy we should be that the Lord also chastens His children.
And while we cannot fully know all the ways in which He does so, we yet
know that He does.
At times He allows us to go through life’s trials, using them to
“produce patience” within us leading to spiritual maturity and
completion. The Bible says that the knowledge of how this works should
lead us to “count it all joy when” we fall into these “various
trials” (James 1:2-4).
Sometimes He allows us to suffer persecution for His cause. The
Bible calls this the “chastening of the Lord,“ and comforts us
with these words: “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the
present, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable
fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it”
(Hebrews 12:11).
When we go astray the Lord seeks to chasten us. Of course, the
Scriptures are His primary corrective disciplinary tool. Through the
written word the Father is quick to tell His children when they are
wrong and where their sin will lead to. Sometimes the Father even uses a
local church to “punish” a wayward child (1 Corinthians 5:11-13;
2 Corinthians 2:6). Through these and perhaps other providential means,
the Father seeks to train His children, that their spirits “may be
saved in the day of the Lord Jesus“ (1 Corinthians 5:5). We should
never despise these means, but rather rejoice in (what are indeed)
expressions of His love.
Are you thankful for the Father’s discipline? Truly, we show our
appreciation for such and our love for Him by obeying His commands (John
14:15).
“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” (Hebrews 12:5,6).
--Mike Noble
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