If you are concerned about Why The Lord Disciplines or Chastens Us at times…let’s talk about it…
Just so you do not feel that this post is about scorning anyone, I want to reassure you that this is about awareness. In the Christian life, we must be aware that God’s grace not only saves us but every now and then, His grace may remind us of our frailties. This is to protect us from those things that beset us, and sometimes all too frequently and that is why the Lord disciplines or chastens us. At times we all have weaknesses that we need to conquer. Without His reminders, we might miss our goal of reaching Heaven.
I will be honest here as I write this. Lately, it has been one thing after the other that has confronted my family. One of those things was the loss of a loved one and family that is very ill.
A few other things however ordinary; have crippled our everyday life to some extent. However, when everything comes at once, every day, or at least it feels that way; we begin to wonder and start asking questions. At least, I have!
We know that the Lord does not cause our problems or suffering. It is our own mishaps that designate our circumstances most often, especially when we are drawn away by our own lust and forget how we started our walk with the Lord.
We are not talking about the unfair side of life, we are talking about why we often need to replenish what we first felt when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
Standing on the foundation of His grace and how we initially positioned ourselves to follow Him.
Let Me Emphasize That The Lord Does Not Tempt Us…but He does keep a record…
The Lord God will never lead us into the path of deception, temptation, or trouble. He protects us even when we do not even think about it. His mercy endureth forever. Why does the Lord discipline or chasten us…
We are tempted when we are drawn away by our own lust…
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:”
“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” James 1: 12-14 (KJV)
However, when we fall into such temptation and forget about our commitment to Jesus Christ, we can be chastened for our wrongdoing. It still hurts us, and we are often without solace.
Why The Lord Disciplines or Chastens Us is not always understood…
You may also be thinking, but…if we truly live a Christian life, how are we drawn away and tempted? How and why does the Lord Disclipine us?
Good questions and I will first give you the perspective of The Word, (yes, you could go to The Word yourself…but let us look at it here:
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”
What do the weights mean in the first verse of Hebrews 12-1?
This verse is intent on telling us as Christians that we are to lay aside everything that is weighed. That being doubt, burdens, hurt, anger, ill-will, frustrations, deceit, pain, habits, addictions, resentment, judging, stony heart, and those things that doeth so easily beset us and become sins. All things that are not pleasing to the Lord.
It is often easy to forget if we have doubt about God’s goodness and graciousness, it can become a sin. We must be very clear that it is Satan’s perfect plan to let us slip up and disregard what we know is truth and the will of God. He is on duty, but we must be prompt to check ourselves when we are losing ground in our salvation and know that God will remind us when we need it.
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
“For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.”
“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: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”
Chastisement Definitions- a rebuke for making a mistake. synonyms: chastening, correction. re: vocabulary.com
When, how, and why does the Lord Chasten Us
Chasten: to prune (something, such as a work or style of art) of excess, pretense, or falsity: REFINE, purify Merriam-Webster
“If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”
So, should we take a look at why we feel we are being dealt what seems to be the reluctance of God to hear our prayers for our situation?
How have we responded to all situations in our life? Have we felt, done, said, thought, or acted in any way that did not become a child of God? Have we been faithful in our service to the Lord? Are we responding to those who might be seeking the Lord as their Savior in the right way?
Or, have we committed a sin and overlooked what we know is right, just, true, holy, and acceptable unto the Lord? You know, even the little “white lie.”
Have we been like Paul in Romans 7:21 – I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
“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.
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. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;”
“And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.” All of the Scripture is in Hebrews 12: 1-13 (KJV)
The Scripture Indicates The Rules, Guidelines, Instructions, And Attributes of Living a Holy and Acceptable Life in Jesus Christ…
This truly means that the Lord is actually looking out for us and our salvation. He does not want us to fail Him, and He knows what is best for us…and He sees the heart. Even when it is against our own wishes, He is protecting us from ourselves.
EndNote-Why The Lord Disciplines or Chastens Us?
Yes, we can be disciplined and chastened by the Lord…Again, see the verse below, and know that anything that is not of God is of the other source that we must sometimes fight as Christians.
“And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.” Hebrews 12: 13.
However, ending here with a great promise that…
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Romans 8:35, 37
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 1st Peter 8: 6-8
God is Love!
