Hebrews 12:5-11
5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
In our striving against sin and great trials of adversity, we are reminded that God is working all these for good, both for His glory and our good as a result (Romans 8:28). When He corrects us, it is to show love in sanctifying grace, not vengeance of retribution for our sin. He disciplines us to take away what is wrong and supply what is lacking in soul and character. We should respect human parents when they correct us, so how much more must we lovingly submit and willingly obey He who knows what is absolutely best for each of us? Our Lord disciplines us to make us holy as He is; He takes what is in in the way of our sharing in His holiness, which is the greatest gain possible for correction! Of course this process is painful in the middle of it, but it truly is joyful afterwards and bears the tasty fruit of righteousness in us when we learn from Him in the process. He is training us to righteousness, which is the meaning of sanctification.
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