Heb 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Heb 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Heb 12:11 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.
For a few days we are chastened by our father's of flesh, the caregivers of our youth, and they chastise us according to their own pleasure. And it is according to their own pleasure in the sense that it's according to their own desire, for what they think is good. When you chastise someone it's usually for BOTH parties benefit - theirs and yours. Yours for what you think is for THEIR good, according to your own idea of good- their behavior improving would benefit you not having to deal with their bad behavior. It's for their good because they are being taught to behave and hopefully taught lessons through that chastising that will last them a lifetime.
God's chastising us is purely for OUR profit. It BENEFITS US to become partakers with Him in His holiness. To have our spiritual nature awakened, our spiritual nature born and raised, chastised to learn the spiritual lessons we need to learn- all so we can unite with our Savior in HIS holiness. The chastising we are called to undergo is for our good, our SPIRITUAL good, not necessarily our fleshy/carnal good in fact it will be GRIEVOUS to our flesh selves. Our flesh selves will rebel from our spiritual chastising. Our flesh selves will tell us it is too hard, too much, too painful, too horrible and will seek to get away from any and all spiritual chastisement. There truly is a war between the flesh and the spirit natures we have.
1Pe 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul
1Pe 2:19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
1Pe 2:20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
Endure grief, suffering wrongfully -- taking it patiently.
We suffer, oh how we are called to suffer, and we rail against having to suffer don't we? Rather than taking it patiently we fight it, we lament our sufferings, we want pity for our suffering, we complain and we wait for others to give us their sympathy which only has us reaffirming to ourselves that we do good feeling sorry for ourselves and our pain. We aren't enduring patiently when we act out because acting out reveals our lack of faith in God that somehow, some way our suffering, our grief will work out for our good.
We CAN'T reveal our faith in God if we are constantly questioning our faith by questioning the pain and suffering, the grief we are called to endure. Faith calls for patience.
Good people suffer! Good people who are undeserving of pain and suffering will feel tremendous pain and endure tremendous suffering. Faith calls for those good people to endure patiently, not to understand all the whys and wherefores, not to lament their horrible afflictions as if God is being horrible to them. Faith calls for us to trust even when there is NO reason we can understand to trust. Even when our lives are turned completely upside-down- we are called to trust.
Heb 12:11 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.
Being chastised isn't joyous….but grievous.
Grievous - Heavy; oppressive; burdensome. Afflictive; painful; hard to be borne. Causing grief or sorrow. Distressing. Great, atrocious.
Being chastised is GREIVOUS.
Being chastised is oppressive, burdensom.
Being chastised is pain, hard to bear.
Being chastised brings grief, sorrow.
Being chastised is distressing, atrocious.
Being chastised is not JOYOUS. Our spiritual chastisement in whatever form it takes will NOT be easy. Whatever we are called to endure to spiritually keep us growing in Christ, to teach us the spiritual lessons we need to learn, will NOT be fun. When we are facing hardship after hardship we need to trust in God to see us through. We need to trust in Him, trust that our spiritual chastisement will result in us being the sons and daughters of God that we need to be.
When the spiritual chastisement is over it will result in our having the righteousness of our Savior in us- the peaceable fruit of righteousness- Christ's righteousness. This will happen, we will all live in Christ through HIS righteousness if we are exercised by the chastising lessons we are called to endure. If we learn from the lessons, learning faith in God, true faith, unwavering.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
We need to learn this faith… this unwavering faith and hold fast to that faith through ALL things good and bad.
Gal 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
By His grace!
By His mercy!
In His amazing love!
By His forgiveness!
Through His righteousness!
Amen.
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