No Chastening Is Pleasant

Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The word of God tells us that all Scripture, including the disobedience of the children of Israel and God numerous judgments, is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. In other word we have the scriptures to learn and benefit from what others did wrong and not to repeat the same mistake. Unfortunately most of God’s people don’t read the scriptures and if they do it’s only for five minutes a day or they listen to something a half baked preacher said who twisted the scriptures to suit himself. As a result they are chastened by God for doing things contrary to God’s word and don’t not benefit from the chastening because they never learn what they did wrong! Yet God’s word is unchanging:

"Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow. "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword"; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. Isaiah 1:16-20

Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, "Which is the first commandment of all?"

Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. 'And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. "And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

So the scribe said to Him, "Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. "And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." Hebrews 12:28-29

To be like Jesus is to do what Jesus did? This includes doing good works, ceasing to do evil, learning to do good; seeking justice, rebuking the oppressor; defending the fatherless, pleading for the widow and doing no harm to a neighbor. It’s also a fact that without Holiness no one shall see God. And it’s also a fact that whom the LORD loves He chastens and scourges every son whom He receives. Hence we are commanded by God:

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives."

If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, 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. Hebrews 12:1-10

When a person goes astray and his wayward, he or she will be chastened by God through methods of His own choosing. If the person is open and obedient to hear the voice of the Spirit he or she will learn the lesson quickly and the chastening will cease. But if the person doesn’t hear the voice of the Spirit and is stubborn the chastening will go on and even for a long while! Yes men by their actions and reactions determine the chastening of God and whether they profit from it. Some are always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Just like each snow flake is different so is each person different and reacts differently to God’s chastening. Nevertheless God’s word is unchanging:

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 1 John 1:5-10