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GOD’S CHASTISEMENT IS BY HIS WORD – Ray E Horton
“We’re not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we’re wondering how painful the best will turn out to be” (Letters of C. S. Lewis, p. 91). This was posted by a friend. I wrote my response and quoted a confirming article:
In all deference to the great C. S. Lewis, I don’t believe that God’s best for us is ever painful, except as it causes us to put our flesh under less than willingly. Our loving, faithful Father does chastise us, but by His Word and His Spirit in the New Covenant.
To Chastise Is to Instruct
The chastening of the Lord is the exhortation to resist temptation
The Greek word (“paideia”) for chastise means “education or training” according to Strong’s G3809/11. It includes instruction and nurture. The same Greek word is used in Eph. 6:4 to mean “nurture,” and to mean “instruction” in 2 Tim. 3:16. One writer explains this very well:
“Chastisement is often misunderstood because of our wrong concepts of God. When we study Hebrews Chapter 12 in its context, we see that the author of Hebrews is not talking about God sending bad things our way, but rather exhorting, correcting and instructing the readers to resist temptation and not fail the grace of God (Heb. 12:4, 14).
“‘The chastening of the Lord is the exhortation to resist temptation and is similar to a child being disciplined by his father. When we resist temptation, it is often a struggle. The un-renewed mind wants one thing; the spirit wants another. Resisting temptation is not pleasant but will yield fruit.’ – Charis Bible College.
