God Chastens Those He Loves - Daily Inspiration P.21

Proverbs 3: King James Bible

God Chastens Those He Loves – Daily Devotion of Proverbs chapter three, Verses 11-12

11 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: 12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Daily Inspiration from These Verses

One thing that I’ve found out the hard way throughout the years, is that the Lord’s chastisement is rarely light handed. At least it never seems like it is.

I remember when I was a child being disciplined in whatever way, thinking that my parents must’ve hated me. My childlike reasoning couldn’t fathom the sound reasoning behind the punishment for whatever the offense was.

Ever been there? Well, for folks that forget the verse above, it may feel like the Lord hates them too from their point of view. When God chastens those he loves, it isn’t very often that the “chastee” feels very loved. Right? It’s more often that you’d feel the opposite.

Just like when we were little children, we don’t typically understand why we’re being chastised, nor for how long. We who are adults, have a difficult time remembering that in the eyes of the Father, we’re more like children to him now, than we were to our own parents when we were little.

But we get through it, and wind up the better and wiser for it, should we recognize the difference between God’s chastening, persecution, and being punished for wrongdoing (going to jail for breaking the law for example). Sure, the Lord will use all three to cause for us who love him to grow, or cause for it to turn around for our benefit somehow, maybe not even in the flesh, but for eternity.

We’d do well to bear in mind that the Lord is our Father that does indeed love us as a parent, before during and after, times of correction. As we hold fast to that understanding, we’ll come out of it better, stronger, wiser, and closer to the Father, than we were before.

Related New Testament Scripture

Hebrews 12: King James Bible

5 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: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

2 Timothy 3: King James Bible

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Prayer

Father,

It’s so easy for us to despise and grow weary of your correction. Forgive us for forgetting that you are our Creator and Parent, our Heavenly Father. Lead us every step of the way through whatever chastening that you’ve found necessary, and direct our attention on the problems that you are trying to work out of our lives, so we learn from your chastisement sooner rather than later, and ultimately help us to keep focused on you Lord. In the name of the Lord Jesus we pray.

Amen

Question for “God Chastens Those He Loves”

Have you ever noticed the difference between persecution, deserved worldly punishment, and when God chastens those he loves?

Daily Inspiration from Proverbs 3 P.21 – God Chastens Those He Loves