June 15, 2020
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, I greet and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given for you today is from the book of Hebrews 12:6 , “For whom the Lord loves He chastens. And scourges every son whom he receives. ”
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, from the above context we know that it is a universal truth that God sends trials on those whom He loves. It does not mean that he sends chastisement though you don’t deserve or just to inflict pain. But it means that by his chastisements he shows that he has a parental care for us. He does not treat us with neglect and unconcern. The very fact that he corrects us shows that he has towards us a father’s feelings and exercises towards us a parental care. If He did not care for us then he would let us go on without any attention, and leave us to pursue, a course of sin that would lead us to ruin our lives.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, God scourges every one whom he acknowledges as his child. The Bible clearly says, For whom the Lord loves He corrects. Just as a father, the son in whom He delights, practically we learn obedience by the things which we suffer from. All men are not the objects of God’s love. Only a special people whom he has chosen for himself are scourged. Especially when they sin and walk against Him then He quickens and calls them by His grace. He justifies, pardons, and accepts them in Christ. And whom he causes to love these He loves with an everlasting love. Now these who are chastened by Him, He loves them, while they are being chastened.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, many men of God have been chastened by God in Bible times. Yet they proved victorious in life. Joseph was thrown into the pit by his own brothers, Later they sold him to the Egyptian merchants for 20 shekels of silver. In Egypt he was accused by Potiphar’s wife and put in jail for no fault of his. Because he endured his trials patiently God exalted him to the post of Governor in Egypt. Likewise Daniel who was taken as captive at the age of 14 to Babylon, stripped off his clothes and his hands tied by chains. He was faithful to God and made a commitment that he would not defile himself with the portion of the kings delicacies. Daniel was a man of prayer. God gave him wisdom to interpret dreams and visions. He humbled himself before God during the time of his trials. Hence God exalted him to the post of Prime minister in Babylon. The king Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honour.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, one cannot forget the crude affliction of Job that he underwent. Job was chastened bitterly. He lost his children, his cattle his health and all his wealth. He was despised by his friends. He was mocked by his own wife. The Bible says, In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong. He never sinned with his lips. God was pleased with Job for he was blameless, and upright. And one who feared God and shunned evil. Therefore as soon as the period of trial was completed he found favour in the eyes of God. The Bible says, God blessed him before his friends and relatives who criticised him. And the Lord restored Job’s losses. He too was a man of prayer. Indeed the Lord gave twice as much as he had before. Hence the Lord blessed the latter days, of Job than his beginnings.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, The Lord will bless you too in the same manner as He blessed Joseph, Daniel, and Job. If you listen to His word you will dwell safely and you will be secure without fear of evil. You need to endure patiently and sincerely the period of affliction or chastisement while God allows it in your life. Then the Lord will honour you and your days of sorrow will turn to joy as it happened in the lives of these men of God. Call upon Him during the days of trouble. He will be very gracious to you, at the sound of your cry. When He hears it, He will answer you. Then You will be exalted and honoured by God. People who rejected you will come back to you. Those who had hurt you will now reconcile with you. God will reverse all situations in favour of you. So believe that God is able to perform all that He has promised you. God bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Dear Lord thank You for correcting us and moulding us to the kind of vessel You want us to be. May we learn obedience through sufferings Help us to accept affliction without grudging. Teach us to believe that all things work together for good to those who love God.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
