INTRODUCTION

Chastening is best associated to a parent-child relationship (Deuteronomy 8:5Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.
See All...; 2 Samuel 7:14I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
See All...; Proverbs 13:24He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
See All...; Proverbs 19:18Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
See All...; Hebrews 12:6-8 [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.
See All...). As such, God’s chastening, at least within the New Testament, is only intended for those He calls His sons (1 John 3:2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
See All...). God chastens His children, not to administer justice, but to strengthen and correct them. The believer does not receive some type of punishment from the Lord resulting from the believer’s sins because these sins have been completely atoned through the shed blood of Christ. However, the saint’s continued practice of sin requires the chastening hand of the Lord in order to conform him into the image of Christ. While chastening is reserved exclusively for sons, a lost man receives only punishment or salvation.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): Children need to be taught the truth so they can make wise choices between good and evil (1 Peter 2:2As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
  See All...; Hebrews 5:14But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
  See All...). When you choose the wrong, you need to be corrected. Your correction is that of a child being corrected and you certainly remain a member of your family and very much loved. Consider these verses and be grateful that dad and mom care for you: Proverbs 22:15Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
  See All...; Proverbs 23:13-14 [13] Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. [14] Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
  See All....
• (For everyone): Why is it a blessing to know that chastening rather than punishment is the product of being a believer? What does this suggest about God’s purpose in dealing with you?
• If chastening is meted out by the Lord as a Father to a son, how should you react to His chastening? How can you be grateful in the midst of His chastening?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Thank God for His chastening.
• Ask the Lord to help you see the blessings of chastening.

HYMN

AMIDST THY WRATH REMEMBER LOVE

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