DCLM Daily Manna 5 December 2021 — Gain in Chastisement
DCLM Daily Manna 5 December 2021 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Gain in Chastisement
TOPIC: GAIN IN CHASTISEMENT
TEXT: Hebrews 12:5-13
5 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:
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.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 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.
11 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.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
KEY VERSE:
“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.” – (Hebrews 12:11)
MESSAGE:
Corporal punishment used to be allowed in Nigerian public schools in line with God’s word that “foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him” (Proverbs 22:15). But with the coming of “civilisation”, it was abrogated. Palpable evidence however shows that persons who were brought up under that “old school” are more civil, more respectful, responsible and law-abiding.
The text under consideration admonishes believers not to despise the chastening of the Lord since it is a mark of God’s love for His children. It is an indication that he that is so chastened is a true son and not a bastard. As parents chasten their children in line with their limited knowledge and receive respect, so the believers ought much more to be in subjection to God whose aim is to make them “partakers of His holiness.” Truly, the experience may not be a joyous one but “afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby”.
Man’s inability to recognise or accept his shortcomings has been since the fall of Adam. It is always easy for people to point at others’ faults and overlook theirs. This is so because “every way of man is right in his own eyes” (Proverbs 21:2). For this, God in His love, takes the initiative to alert believers of the unnoticed dangers they often face. He brings in chastening to keep them on track lest they stray. We need to understand that correction is for our own good; and so have the right attitude towards it.
The believer must not wait for chastening from God before he does what is right. Daily examination of one’s life and strict obedience to the Word are necessary to keep one in tandem with divine will and approval.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Accept and endure divine chastening to enjoy more grace and victory.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Hosea 10-14
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
