Do Not Despise His Love

Proverbs 15:32 He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.

Anyone who enjoys being chastened, please raise your hand. I do not think I will get too many takers on that one. However, there is great wisdom and blessing that comes with chastening, which some of us need more than others. Hebrews 12 tells us that God's chastening is evidence that we belong to Him, as sons and daughters. God's chastening, which may even come as a loving rebuke from a brother or sister in Christ, is profitable for us in that He uses it to steer us back onto the path He desires for us to walk on. For this reason we must take care to receive chastening, and a loving rebuke, in the right spirit; and that takes much practice and humility. Hebrews 12:11 tells us, "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness." Today, let us not ignore what God is trying to teach us, if we are in fact experiencing His chastening. He may be starting gradually in order to get our attention, and keep us from going down a path that will result in painful consequences. To ignore it, or become stiff necked, is to despise our own soul. Instead, we must see God's discipline for what it truly is...a blessing. A blessing because we have a God who loves us enough not to allow us to continue down a path of potential pain, and destruction. He loves us enough to redirect us so that we can enjoy a life of fellowship with Him, and blessings that come with living a life of righteousness. To despise His chastening is to despise His love.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).