“But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord,
that we may not be condemned with the world.”
1st Corinthians 11:32

It is actually in God’s FAITHFULNESS that he brings chastening upon us. I saw a picture recently in which a father said to his child after disciplining him, “I love you too much to let you continue this way.” Oh but if all fathers would have this wisdom!

“If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons,
for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
But if you are without chastening,
of which all have become partakers,
then you are illegitimate and not sons.”
Hebrews 12:7-8

Chastening can have different effects upon us. Some become angry at God and stamp their feet in defiance. Some just don’t understand and try to distract themselves so they will not think about it. The Book of Revelation pictures the rebellious during the Tribulation when the judgments of God will be falling upon a sinful world, and tells a chilling response from the sinners; it says they “did not repent” (Revelation 9:20). And they went into eternal judgment.

Pride is the greatest power within man that will lead him to hell. Pride is what caused Satan to be cast out of heaven. Pride is the most awful of sins, pride is the one thing that will keep man from God.  Pride keeps a person from God’s plan for his/her life.

But others realize God is dealing with them and fall before his feet in repentance. This is where pride is broken. This is where surrender takes place, when a man realizes that his own wisdom and his own way is vastly inferior to his father’s and bends the knee before him, then healing will come.

vs 11-13:
“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.
Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down,
and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet,
so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be HEALED.”

If God is chastening you, it is out of his great love for you. He doesn’t want you to stay where you are, he wants to mature you. There is a place inside you that needs to be changed and if you cooperate, your soul will be healed and a new level of growth will take place. Surrender is the power of humility that brings maturity.

The purpose of God is to take the shack that you live in and transform it into a palace fit for the King. You cannot do it – only he can. Do not resist him, cooperate with him, bow before him in humility.

Pray with me:
Father, my pride makes me think I’m ok, even that I’m a pretty good person, so when you bring chastening upon me my first reaction is to stamp my feet and resist. That’s the pride in my fallen human nature. I realize that I need repentance and I ask you for grace and strength and help to cooperate with you, because the battle against pride is difficult and painful. I ask for help in this because I know that ultimately it is in surrender and humility before you that we are taken to new depths of maturity and Christ-likeness. Please forgive my resistance and bring me into humility that I might be changed and healed in the area that you’re zeroing in on. I know that your purpose is for my good and that later I’ll look back and marvel at the wonderful change in me …and my heart will rejoice.