ICS Daily Devotions
To be Chastened by the Father

Hebrews 12:5-11 (NKJV) And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten………Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

We chasten, educate, discipline or correct someone whom we love when the person is in the wrong or heading in the wrong direction.

Nobody likes to be corrected, being chastened can be painful especially when it comes from someone whom you love or respect tremendously.

It will not seem possible during the chastening process but after we humbly receive the correction then we will be a better person ready for greater works and a deeper relationship with the person who has corrected us, because we will respond in appreciation of that correction.

Normally the person who has chastened us, has earned the right to speak into our lives because of His/her love for us. In this case, God loves us, paid the price for our sin and He is our Father therefore, He has the right to correct us in all aspects of our lives.

He is the Father of spirits, He deals with us in our spirit and uses His Word to change, correct and train us. He will deal with us on those issues that are wrong in our lives so that we can be partakers of His Holiness!

God will never use sickness, pain or tragedy to deal with or discipline us. It is our earthly father who deals with our flesh.

Normally God will deal with our character, motives, wrong actions, wrong words and it will be painful and our flesh will react. Once we change, our flesh will bear the good fruit of righteousness. We will bear the fruit of the Spirit.

John 14:26 (NKJV) But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

The Holy Spirit will prompt us and tell us things that are not right in our lives wherein God wants us to change. He will also convict us if we have sinned against God. He will bring to remembrance His word so that we can differentiate between right and wrong in the sight of God.

Sermon Series: Walk with God