All HIS corrections are sent in love!
Numbers 14:2
There are murmurers among Christians now,
as there were in the camp of Israel of old.
There are those who, when the chastening
rod falls, cry out against the afflictive
dispensation. They complain,
"Why am I thus afflicted? What have
I done to be chastened in this manner?"
O murmurer! Why should you murmur
against the dispensations of your
heavenly FATHER? Can HE treat you
worse than you deserve?
Consider what a rebel you were once--
but HE has pardoned you!
Surely, if HE in HIS wisdom
sees fit now to chasten you--
you should not complain!
After all, are you smitten as
badly as your sins deserve?
Consider the corruption
that is in your heart--
and then you will not wonder
that there needs so much
of the rod to fetch it out!
Weigh yourself, and discern how much
dross is mingled with your gold--
and do you think the fire is too hot to
purge away so much dross as you have?
Does not that proud rebellious spirit
of yours, prove that your heart
is not thoroughly purified?
Are not those murmuring words
contrary to the holy submissive
nature of GOD'S children? Is not
the correction needed?
But if you will murmur against HIS
chastening, take heed, for it will go hard
with murmurers. GOD always chastises
HIS children twice, if they do not bear
the first stroke patiently.
"HE does not afflict willingly,
nor grieve the children of men."
(Lamentations 3:33)
All His corrections are sent in love,
to purify you, and to draw you nearer
to HIMSELF. Surely it must help you
to bear the chastening with resignation,
if you are able to recognize your FATHER'S
hand in it. For
scourges every son whom HE receives. If you
endure chastening, GOD deals with you as with sons."
(Hebrews 12:6,7a)
Philippians 2:14
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