Thursday, December 6, 2018

The Lord Chastens Whom He Loves Hebrews 12:6


The writer of Hebrews told his readers they “have forgotten the exhortation which speaks unto you as unto children”, and when they were “chastened of the Lord”, they were not to “despise” nor “faint when” they were “rebuked of him”. In chapter twelve and verse six of Hebrews the writer shares how his readers should “whom the Lord loves he chastens” where we read:

For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.

The verse begins, “For whom the Lord loves he chastens,...”. The writer began with the word, “For whom” which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, verily and therefore whomever” “the Lord” which refers to “he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master which is the title given to God the Messiah” “loves” which means “to entertain, be fond of, be well pleased, contented and unconditionally loved” “he chastens” or “teaches, instructs, causes to learn, corrects and molds character by reproof and admonition”. The Hebrew writer states how the Lord “teaches and instructs” the people he “loves”.

The verse continues, “...and scourges every son whom he receives.”. The writer added the words, “and scourges” or “flogs, banes, afflicts” “every son” which means “each, all, the whole and everyone of the descendants and posterity” “whom he receives” or “that takes up, accepts and acknowledges”. The Lord also, according to the writer of Hebrews, “afflicts” the “children” He “accepts and acknowledges”.

When we consider these words in Hebrews, we understand the Lord “disciplines” and “instructs” His “children”. Sometimes He uses “afflictions” to instruct, and other times he “reproves and admonishes” through His word. Let us be sure to notice God “loves” His “children”, and because He does, He provides the correction and guidance they need, and should they wander off the best path for them, He will use “baneful” acts to redirect them. Jesus Christ His Son is the only one who lived “perfectly”, and He suffered and died for our transgressions and sins. The Lord's “correction” should be desired by all who believe and trust in Him, and we should always know, He has our best in mind.

Next time the writer shares what happens “If you endure chastening”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites,
http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.





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