DCLM HIGHER EVERYDAY 22 January 2022 — God’s Chastisement
DCLM Higher Everyday 22 January 2022 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — God’s Chastisement
TOPIC: GOD’S CHASTISEMENT
BIBLE TEXT: HEBREWS 12:5-12
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;
MEMORY VERSE: “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth” (HEBREWS 12:6).
MESSAGE:
Adults do remember how their parents chastised them when they were growing up in order to prevent them from going the wrong way in life. Often, this chastisement would not be appreciated by growing children. Parents who chastise their children do not hate them, but they do so to help them to be focused on what is important in life.
Also Read: DCLM Higher Everyday 21 January 2022 — Giving to gain
This is exactly the way God relates with you as His child. He knows the best for you and hence allows you to face some challenges in life in order to develop your stamina for greater challenges ahead. The concept was summarized by an author in this statement, “What God would have prevented in His power, He allowed in His wisdom.”
Also Read: DCLM Higher Everyday 20 January 2022 — Give thanks to God
Since God’s plan for you is always good and not evil (Jeremiah 29:11), you should trust Him because He knows the best awaiting you even though you are going through some challenges at the moment. However, you must be sure that the challenges you are facing are not as a result of sins. Hence, self-examination and repentance may be necessary in some instances of chastisement.
Also Read: Open Heaven for Teen 22 January 2022 — Right Or Light?
QUOTE: He knows the best awaiting you.
CHALLENGE: Endure the chastening of the Lord.
PRAYER: Help me to endure Your chastening.
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)
