Daily Companion  | 14 September

THE PROFITABLE CHASTISEMENT TO GREATNESS

“We have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. - Hebrew 12:9,10

The parents or guardians would correct their children with the intent to make better persons out of them. Some children may also misjudge such correction as a display of hatred. But no, it is not hatred but love. “He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly”( Proverbs 13:24). Hebrews 12:6 says, "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth."

Our heavenly Father, like our human parents, spares not His rod too. Because if He does, it means when we go astray we have no one to correct us. Much more than the human parents, the correction from the Lord is to our great benefit. David said, “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes” (Psalm 119:67,71). 

Have you been chastised, or learnt a lesson in a hard way?  Never see such as an expression of God’s hatred or abandonment towards you. He said, “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11). 

Therefore beloved, humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time (1 Peter 5:6). There is always something glorious, good and great when the Lord corrects. He corrects to redirect you to that path of greatness. 

Today’s Recite:  “It is good for a man to bear, the yoke in his youth. Lamentations 3:27 (NKJV)

Today’s Morning Prayers:  Heavenly Father, I thank You for loving me. Grant me the grace never to go astray and if I do, never abandon me in my error. Rebuke, and Redirect me to the path of righteousness and greatness in Jesus' mighty name. Amen!

Today’s Hymn: My Father Watches Over Me

Today’s ReadMe: Micah 1 - 3