Who Else Wants to be a Better Person?
Hitching a ride with a friend
It hurts for our own good
Despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him.
Hebrews 12:5
Think of when you were a kid and your parents gave you a severe punishment because you were naughty. You didn’t like it but in retrospect you know it had to be done for your own good. For me it was a wicked spanking for swimming in the back pond. Every time I would swim in it I would get horrible rashes all over my tiny body that would itch like the dickens. Then we would have to buy expensive medicine to clear it up. Being poor we did not have that kind of money. After numerous warnings not to go swimming there anymore, finally in a fit of rage my mom gave me a heck of a beating.. Being a country boy the beating did not hurt, it was seeing how angry mom was. I did not understand why I could not go swimming there and all the other kids could. Later I felt so bad. I loved mom and did not want to make her angry I went and hugged her and cried. I promised to never swim in the pond again. And I didn’t either.
Now there are times we do not listen to the Lord and He has to chastise us. Again for me it was putting service to Him above loving Him. There was a lady that was interested in Christianity as well as classes I was teaching. When we went to church instead of fellowshipping with brothers I was more concerned about making her comfortable. Because she spoke little English, when singing the songs I was more concerned about weather she understood the songs instead of singing praise to Jehovah. During the sermon I was more concerned about if she understood what was being said instead of listening to the message . Jehovah finally took matters into His own hands and drove a wedge between us. Now she has friends at that church and I attend another church where I am much happier. We are still friends and she is growing in Christ. It was very difficult for both of us to endure this experience, but it has drawn me closer to Christ while our broken relationship has been healed. Believe me it can be quite painful to experience Jehovahs chastising, but it is for your own good.
Prayer: Oh Jehovah Adonai (The Lord is Sovereign) thank you for Your chastising. It was painful but necessary to keep me close to You. In Jesus’ wonderful name I pray. Amen.
May the sweet sunshine of Jesus’ love bless you today and every day.
