Hebrews 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

The blessed man is he who is under education in God’s school, where he endures chastisement, and by chastisement is instructed. – Richard Cecil – Words Old and New 

Learning the Hard Way

As Christians, we do not like to learn our lessons the hard way, but often that is God’s way.  Chastisement involves correction; it is a process that produces a change in the attitude and the action of an individual.  A good son learns from his father’s instruction.  He listen and changes his behavior.  A good son also does not despise chastening from his father.  Instead, he welcomes it and thanks his father for correcting his action.  That is the way we should be toward our Lord.  Often we are trying to escape the chastening hand of the Lord and instead miss the blessing of being under the education of God’s schoolhouse.

Experience is a Great Teacher

In school we learn through instruction.  We are taught to memorize facts.  However, we do not always understand what we are taught at an early age, because we do not have the experiences yet to prove what we have been taught. The same is true of God.  We can read the Word of God, understand His precepts to some extent, but until we go through life’s experiences, whereby the instruction becomes real; we truly do not fully understand what has been taught.  One way God will teach is through chastisement in the life of the believer.  We will suffer, just as He suffered.  That produces conformity to His image.  We become more like him and realize we are His sons by our pedigree of being chastised.  Let’s fully trust God as He works in our lives to conform us to His image.

Photo by Alvin K