March 15, 2019
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.”
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, the above verse means, that the Lord disciplines the one He loves. The Psalmist says, “It is Good for me that I was afflicted. God disciplines us so that we will grow spiritually. The Lord God seeks to develop our intimate walk with Him, encourage us to be more Christ-like and to have victory over the power of sin in our daily life. God sends trials and hardships designed to strengthen our faith in Him.
Dear Brothers and Sisters, the Bible says, My son do not, regard lightly the discipline of the Lord. Nor faint when you are reproved by Him. For those whom the Lord loves, He disciplines. And He scourges every son, whom he receives. God deals with you as with sons, for what son is there whom his Father does not discipline. No one enjoys, persecutions but Jesus patiently endured it and set the perfect example for all his believers. He suffered the shame of the cross to accomplish our redemptions. When we go through affliction we should believe that God is treating us as his children. And the person who is not disciplined is not considered as His child.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, King Solomon, says, in His proverbs, “He who withholds his rod, hates his son, But He who loves him disciplines him diligently. If your parents had not disciplined you while you were a child, then you would be the most arrogant, selfish and self-centered, out of control person. And those brought up in such an atmosphere find genuine difficulty in understanding the discipline of God. Even Jesus, Gods unique son, learned obedience by the things which he suffered. My Dear Brothers and Sisters, A true child of God do not experience God’s condemnation. If you share the sufferings of Christ keep on rejoicing. For you are reviled for the name of Christ you are blessed because the spirit of glory and of God rests on you. There should be no Godless person, like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For later, when he desired to inherit, the blessing he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance though he sought for it, with tears.
Hence, when you go through affliction, do not think, you will never receive blessings. Remember God is mindful of you. He will bless you.
Prayer:
Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Thank you, Lord, for making us understand that you send us trials for our own benefit. We praise you for drawing us close to you. Help us to accept our trials and afflictions cheerfully. In Jesus name we pray,
Amen.
