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QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ASKED
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Recently, someone gave me this question, "Please
discuss the 'chastening' of the Lord. How does he chasten his children? I
understand that if we do wrong, things such as drink alcohol or do drugs that
the natural consequence of this to our body is a form of chastening. But,
this same thing happens to a person who is not a child of God. Would that be
called the chastening of the Lord also?" To properly understand the biblical view of chastening that we as God's
children sometimes go through, we must understand clearly what such words as
"chastening" and "chastisement" mean. There is often
confusion in terms here. Due to the English meanings, chastisement often
carries with it the idea of punishment or inflicting pain. However, the word
"chastening" is a broader term, indicating a disciplining or
training to which one is subjected. Notice an illustration. In Deuteronomy
8:5 the Bible states, "Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as
a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee." It is
clear that you have a reference to the discipline and training that God
sometimes gave his people |
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The questioner asked more specifically, "How does God chasten?" Keep in mind that God's chastening of our lives to produce spiritual maturity and greater faith is to be distinguished from reaping and sowing (Gal. 6:7,8). We will reap what we sow, regardless, of who we are. We are certainly free to choose sin, but we are not free to choose the outcome of that choice. Hence, the one who chooses to drink alcohol or the individual, who chooses to involve themselves in harmful drugs will suffer. The chastening of the Lord has to do with the children of God. God does deal with man today on a personal basis through natural means (He does not deal with man today in any type of miraculous way, as He once did in Bible times). Since this is the case, we do not always know specifically how God is working in our lives, though, we know that he does. Sometimes, the chastening of the Lord comes our way in a preventative nature. Paul was given a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble (2 Cor. 12:7-9). There are times when God's chastening of our lives is corrective in nature. Much of what the Bible writers are saying both in Proverbs 3:11,12, as well as, Hebrews 12:5-11 is in the context of God correcting his children, who run the risk of wandering away from him. Once again, this is not to be understood so much as punishment, but rather training that we need. There are times when the disciplining and training that we receive is more motivational in nature, that is, motivating one to wake up out of spiritual lethargy and grow to greater levels of faith and devotion. |
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Facing the chastening of the Lord is a lot easier said than done,
therefore, one needs to prepare his heart and mind, not only for the fact
that God does chasten us from time to time, but for the reality of it in our
lives personally. When facing the possibility of God's chastening, so that
you will endure the chastening faithfully, read scriptures that deal with
suffering such as Psalms 23:1; Phil. 4:6,7; 1 Peter 5:6,7; Deuteronomy 33:27;
Psalm 9:9; Psalm 27:5,6. God has revealed his will to us it is the
scriptures. Utilize the power of God's word by growing in knowledge and in
faith. As you do that, carefully consider your heart and life, so as to
determine, if you are faithful to God. Repent of every sin of which you are
aware. Do whole-heartily everything you know God would have you to do. If you
are suffering, evaluate the suffering in contrast to the eternal weight of
glory (2 Cor. |
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