Chastening

by JOHN YOUNG, Hamilton, Ontario | Category: General | Jan 1944

"My son, regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord, Nor faint when thou art reproved of Him, For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom He receiveth " (Hebrews 12 3, 6)

Though the above words were written to the Hebrews we know that they are applicable to us also We remember it is written, "Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable ... that the man of God maybe complete, furnished completely unto every good work" (2 Timothy 3.16, 17).

We can readily see that such chastening is for those whom God loves, those who have become sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. We who have died with Christ are to reckon ourselves dead unto sin and are to mortify the deeds of the body. Such as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. So we read,-" God dealeth with you as with sons" (Hebrews 12.7). Is it not true that we have many lessons to learn from our God? Many natural and carnal traits still in us must be purged out in order that we may become useful in God's service. I am sure all will readily acknowledge - that this is so. Many of us were captives of Satan for long years; no doubt some of-us had served him well. - Such evil traits, beloved, often take an enormous amount of purging. The question is asked,-" What son is there whom his father chasteneth not?" Often have we read the words, "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes" (Proverbs 13.24). This chastening is for the son's good; it is that he may learn by

correction. So it is with us; we who had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us and we gave them reverence, how much rather ought' we to be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?

We may ask the question,-" Why do we need chastening"? We are told it is "for our profit, that we may be partakers of His' holiness." Undoubtedly God knows what is right for His people and we need not question His unerring wisdom. All His chastening is done in love, that we may become as gold purified in the furnace, that the proof of our "faith, being more precious than gold ... might be found unto praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1. 7).

We know that "all chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous, but

grievous."

How often questions arise in our minds while we are being chastened! We are apt to try to escape from under His chastening God, but may it be ours ever to remember the words of the Psalmist, who many times experienced the - chastening rod of God, "Blessed is the man whom Thou chasteneth, 0 LORD, And teachest out of Thy law" (Psalm 94.12). We are assured that "afterward it yieldeth peace- able fruit unto them at have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness."

May it then be ours to be exercised about chastening by our God, and may we be subject to His mind and will for us.

Let us never despise the chastening of the Lord. "Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth" (Job 5.17). We do well to remember Job as an example. We read that after all that befell him, "Job sinned not, nor charged God with foolishness" (Job 1. 22)

"Faint Christian, though thy God

Smite thee with a chastening rod;

Smite He must with Father's care

That He may His love declare."

JOHN YOUNG, Hamilton, Ontario | Jan 1944
General