THE
PURPOSE OF CHASTISMENT!
Heb
12:5-11
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?
8
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are
ye bastards, and not sons.
9
Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave
them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of
spirits, and live?
10
For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he
for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:
nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto
them which are exercised thereby.
A
preacher friend recently referred to the offensive “cuss” word bastard
in a conversation. He wasn’t trying to be vulgar, just descriptive.
Anyway, I began to think about that offensive word and decided to look it up in
scripture again. It is only found one time in all the
Bible and it does indeed refer to our relationship with the Father.
Merriam
– Webster defines
the word bastard in two ways. The first definition is physical
and refers to a child born out of wedlock as a result of an illicit union. The
second definition is that of “an offensive or disagreeable person.” Perhaps
that is the way in which my preacher friend was using the word. I’m not sure.
The
only time the word is used in scripture it could be used either way! The
context, however, is that of discipline for bad behavior. As believers we have
been adopted into a new family with a new standard of acceptable behavior. When
we misbehave the Father chastens us to bring us back in line. He does this not
because He enjoys using the belt. He does it so that we might be “partakers of
his holiness.”
If
we can live our lives without chastisement and punishment it means one of
several things. It may mean that our behavior currently warrants no punishment.
It may mean that we are not truly part of God’s family; we have not really been
saved. It may also mean that we have become an offensive and disagreeable
person. It would be hard, I think, to tell the difference.
Being
disciplined is not fun! (see verse 11) Discipline, however, has a product
or an intended purpose. Discipline alerts us that our behavior is unacceptable
and creates for us sufficient discomfort to return us to the Father’s favor. It
is intended to “yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness” or right actions.
When the behavior changes the punishment is removed.
If
you are suffering trouble due to God’s chastisement it is so that you might
examine and change your behavior. During the time of punishment we must give
Him reverence (verse 9) and honor Him. Otherwise we prove ourselves to be
offensive and disagreeable persons.
Dear
Lord, I know that my behavior at times may attract your anger. Let me bear the
rod like an agreeable son. Produce in me the behavior you are longing for. Make
me a well disciplined and well behaved child. AMEN
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