Bible Reading: Job 19; HEB. 12:1-8
“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” – Hebrews 12:6 (KJV)
The nature of man is such that he will do something to annoy his loved ones at one time or the other. Thus you would have done something to cause your father or guardian to chastise you at one time or the other. If a child takes something that does not belong to him and his father does not chastise him; that sends a wrong signal to the child as he begins to feel that what he did was not bad. If he does it again and he was not disciplined, he will begin to feel it’s the norm.
Thus discipline is a signal to the child and helps to straighten the child and show him the right path. If you therefore love a child, you will chastise him if he does something unacceptable. The same way the Almighty God, our father, treats us. He chastises those he loves so that they can move away from the path of sin. Thus apostle Paul says in Hebrews 12:6 KJV “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”
Chastisement takes different forms; it could be verbal, in which case God tells you not to do what you have done again or ask you to do something as atonement or restitution for the wrong you had done. On the other hand it could be a form of sanction that could cause you some pain like spanking your child for a bad behaviour. A man of God gave account of how he gave a job that involved digging the ground to a man and when he went round to check the work being done, he saw the labourer digging far more than he asked them to and the Spirit asked him to correct the man but he insisted that they should pay for their error. When he was about to leave the site, he went to shake the labourer and the man squeezed his hands so much that he felt such a big pain. When he complained to God, he was reminded that that was the reward for his disobedience! He said the punishment was too much compared with the offence; but who determines the measure?
Are you going through some pains which may appear too much to bear, please examine yourself to find out where you have disobeyed the Holy Spirit and you are being chastised for the error. Note Hebrews 12:7 (KJV): “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” Please endure and ask for mercy from God, who as our father is so merciful that he will surely forgive you and give you another chance.
Prayer point: Father, have mercy on me and forgive me all my sins, transgressions and iniquity in Jesus name.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero