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Accepting Chastisement

Let us now go more deeply into the warning that began in Hebrews 12:4 . For now, in verse 5, we read, "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 art rebuked of him."

Plainly these Hebrews, descendants of Abraham, had been rebuked for forgetting that which is recorded in Proverbs 3:11 and is here quoted. That wise king Solomon warned his son, and in effect urged him to be thankful for the chastisement God sent him. We, too, should take a strong hold of that truth. It is chastening that our covenant God sends; and we should not faint but be thankful that He in love rebukes us for our spiritual good.

Chastisement is the work of God's grace whereby He stops us from adding to our sins, so we can run more swiftly and energetically to the reaching of that prize which Christ earned for us. We often question God's works and are ready to faint in our misery and disappointments, that is, faint spiritually, and slow down or even stop in our running the race.

Remember that chastisement is the work of God's grace whereby He purifies us and gets us back to running in that race, because He loves us and is bringing us to that glory which Christ earned for us. Here is a truth for us. Every time that we sin, whether that be with body or soul, with eyes or mouth, we reveal that we are forgetting our calling, and forgetting what Christ earned for His people.

When, then, physical troubles come, do not complain and question God's love. instead thank him for it. Thank Him for reminding you of your calling to run the race and go forward, not backward or to the left or right.

What counts is not what you lose today, but what you will receive when, at the end of the race, you dwell with Christ in holiness and covenant fellowship with God. What counts is what God has in mind, not what our sinful hearts desire.

Read: Job 5:17-27

Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism

Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:

Ezra 3 ; Ezra 4:1-23 
I Corinthians 2:6-16 ; I Corinthians 3:1-4 
Psalm 28:1-9 
Proverbs 20:24-25 
****
Quote for Reflection: 

“Women sigh for fame.  They would be sculptors….or they would be poets….But is any work in marble so great as hers who has an immortal life laid in her hands to shape for its destiny?  Is the writing of any poem in musical lines so noble a work as the training of the powers of a human soul into harmony?  O that God would give every mother a vision of the glory and splendor of the work that is given to her when a babe is placed in her bosom to be nursed and trained!”  ~ J.R. Miller

“Who can find a virtuous woman?  Her price is far above rubies…Her children arise up, and call her blessed: her husband also, and he praiseth her.  Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.”  (Proverbs 31: 10, 28, 29)

Last modified on 06 August 2018

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  • Date: 6-August

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