God’s Chastisement

Question: what is your desire when it comes to the Lord?  We serve an awesome, mighty God that loves us beyond our comprehension.  His desire is always for our good, which is a fact, but it is hard for many people to accept and try to get their arms around.  I think most people have a desire to be loved but they struggle to find it and many seek it in all the wrong places.   

People see all the tragedies that have taken place and God gets most of the blame.  Many look at God and say, “why doesn’t He stop sin and evil in the world, why does He allow it to continue?”  They are not thinking about God’s hatred for sin and also God being a just God.  God loves us so much that He gives us a free will to make our own choices.  God not only gives us free choices but He also gives us the power to make the right choice if we are believers.

The non-believer has also been given a choice, because He loves them also.  Their choice is whether to repent or not and receive Him as their Lord and Savior leaving their old lifestyle and serving Him regardless of what is going on around them.  The Bible is very clear when it says, “you will reap what you sow.”  The words that we say and the things that we do will either bring blessings or correction, the choice is ours.  

God’s desire for us, and our desires, many times conflict with each other.  Our desire is to honor God, but in our imperfect state that doesn’t always happen, sometimes we walk in the flesh and not the Spirit of the living God.  When we walk in the flesh we are subject to our sinful desires, we can do and say things that cause us to be corrected; it doesn’t always take place instantly but over a period of time.  I think sometimes people continue in sin because they have the idea that they have gotten away with their sin.  Let me make this clear, we will never get away with sin; there is always a price to pay.  Here is where the problem comes in, when we do finally get corrected which can come in a multitude of forms, we can get angry at God not remembering the sin we committed and that the correction we received was warranted.  

In James 1:19 the Word of God says, “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”  Most people that get angry with God probably don’t understand God, His Word or His principles.  God corrects us for our own good because He loves us.

It says this in Hebrews 13:4-11,

“After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,

“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,

    and don’t give up when he corrects you.

For the Lord disciplines those he loves,

    and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.”

We know that it isn’t fun to be punished, but without it we would never have a healthy fear of God and we would take Him for granted and He knows that.  He doesn’t want spoiled children; He wants obedient children that love Him.  Is it your desire to love Him, honor Him and to please Him?

Then start by walking in the Spirit and not gratifying the flesh and its desires, for He delights in His children when we are obedient.  God bless and have a great day!!