"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING"

Heb 12:5 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;

Heb 12:6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”

Some explanatory thoughts and application:

1. The writer was stating that his readers had forgotten something very important about suffering.

2. They had forgotten a word of encouragement, or exhortation that speaks to them as to sons.

3. There is two parts to the exhortation, ( 1 ) As God's children, we are not to despise, or not regard the chastening, or instruction that He allows in our lives. ( 2 ) Nor are we to become discouraged by the chastening of the Lord and become discouraged when we are rebuked or being corrected by Him. That is, we are not to just start giving up when we are suffering.

4. Sometimes our Father allows suffering to discipline us, or to correct us, He loves us too much to allow us to walk in rebellion to Him.

5. The purpose of the chastening, or discipline, is to bring us to maturity in our walk with Him. "God's purpose is not or persecute us but to perfect us. Chastening is not the work of an angry judge, as he punishes a criminal. But, rather, it's the work of a loving Father as He corrects His child" Warren Wiersbe.

6. Also, sometimes, the chastening, instruction etc, comes not because we have been disobedient, but rather because we have been obedient. Think of the times when the Lord instructed His disciples to get into a boat, and go to the other side of the sea of Galilee. And, once in the boat, and out in the middle of the sea a life threatening storm came upon them, ( or so they thought) They were actually in a storm because they were following Jesus's instruction, and He was going to teach them some lessons about trusting Him

7. A final thought here is simply this. It's in the verse. See if you can see it and find it as you read along here. "Heb 12:6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” The suffering that He allows, the chastening, the training, etc, is actually because He LOVES YOU.

A prayer:

Father, please help us to not forget Your words of encouragement as we go through difficult times. You have a purpose in all of it. Nothing ever comes to our lives, but it has not first passed through Your hands of allowance. And You have a good purpose in mind as You instruct us. We want to remember also, that you LOVE US. And, we love You Lord.

In Jesus' name,
Amen.