Good morning,
Relationships matter. If we have trusted Christ to be our Lord and Savior, then God is our Father. He treats us as sons. When we do wrong, we are chastised, in love. Unbelievers are judged in God’s anger.
As you read today’s devotion, thank God you are His son.
Divine punishment–or divine chastisement?
(Arthur Pink)
There is a threefold distinction between divine punishment–and divine chastisement.
The first lies in the character in which God acts.
In the former, God acts as Judge.
In the latter, God acts as Father.
The second distinction lies in the recipients of each.
The objects of the former, are His enemies.
The objects of the latter, are His children.
A third distinction is seen in the design of each.
The one is retributive–the other remedial.
The one flows from His anger–the other flows from His love.
~ ~ ~ ~
“If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.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?” (Hebrews 12:7-9)
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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