Daily Manna 5 December
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)
TEXT: Hebrews 12:5-11
5 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;
6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 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. 11 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.
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
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.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Hosea 10-14
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – Gain in Chastisement – by Pastor Enoch A.
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Daily Manna 5 December 2021
