Have you ever heard a Christian say 'I believe the Lord is chastening me' when perhaps the only problem is that he has a flu or is sick with a cold? Some people are almost spiritual neurotics, constantly drawing attention to trivial matters in their lives. Other people ask, 'Do you think the Lord is punishing me for what I did years ago?' Both are wrong but we do need to have a right attitude when it appears that the Lord is using strong discipline on us. There are three attitudes mentioned in our reading today. First, we can make light of it (v.6) 'Despise it' are the words in the KJV. If we ignore physical pain, we are going past one of nature's danger signals. If we take no notice when God is speaking strongly, in conviction or in suffering, we are in real danger. Second, we can lose heart. (v.6) 'Faint under it' is the wording of the KJV. It is easy to indulge in self pity. It is easy to blame God. It is easy to cry on everyone's shoulder. What God wants is for us to be strengthened and helped by it. He has allowed it for our good. Third, we can benefit from it. (v.11) It may not seem to be a very happy situation. No strong discipline ever is. It will eventually bring about 'a harvest of righteousness' and that will fulfill God's purpose. That will only be so for those who enter into its meaning with surrender, faith and joy. What is our attitude? Make light of God's strong discipline? Lose heart? Give way to self pity? Or benefit from it? The choice is ours, but God will help us even in this. By His indwelling Spirit, he will give us the strength to endure, to be blessed and be enriched by it all. Can we ask Him to do that in us and for us? A LINE FOR TODAY: In love and not in anger all His chastening come. |
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