A Word Of Enlightening

1 day ago

3 min read

Here again is the main Word of Scripture, which has been with us for the week. But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate, and not sons. Hebrews 12: 8.

It was noted that this word was given for many reasons. These included our encouragement, exhortation, enlightening, and empowerment, all for children of God, under our heavenly Father’s discipline. Having spent time on the encouragement and exhortation of that Word of Scripture to us, we turn to how we are being enlightened by it.

Enlightening

Will you agree with me on this matter, due to personal experiences? Aren’t there times when you know something and feel within yourself that you are not ignorant of it? Albeit, someone comes along and holds that same thing up before you and others. You are totally blown away by what you are learning and at how enlightened you have been made. You immediately throw out what you previously held up, to hold up your new enlightening.

It’s like Paul, who sat at the feet of Gamaliel, the most respected and highly sought after teacher of his day. Paul was a master student and became a Pharisee of Pharisees. Albeit, one day he met Jesus, under whom he took tutelage and O how he was altogether enlightened, as never before. He counted all that he had previously studied and learnt as nothing, compared with his new, Holy Spirit enlightening. Is this not how we feel about this word, or ought to feel about it?

As was stated earlier, we think that we know things, but discover that we really are ignorant about much that we say we know, when it comes to God and our chastising, or for many things, for that matter. O how we realize our deficiencies.

In the verse just before our given text, this is what we are told. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? Hebrews 12: 7. The Bible text refers to sons, but we know that daughters are included. We know that God has sons and daughters and they are treated alike, for with Him there is no, male and female.

Here’s the wisdom, the truth of our heavenly Father’s chastening. It lies, not in the giving of the punishment, for we know and believe it is given in pure love. Our enlightening comes in the taking of that punishment. Too often, we keep our focus on God and His choice of chastening. We make judgments and think all kinds of erroneous thoughts about the ways of our Father in heaven. O how the unscrupulous deceiver tries to make mileage of these times, to get us to speak ill of our God. When our thinking is all warped, we are not inclined to take the discipline well. Yet, the ever trustworthy Word tells us that only if we endure chastening, will God deal with us as sons and daughters.

What does to endure mean? For one sure thing, it means to carry on to the end. It is to suffer something painful, unpleasant and difficult, without giving up. No punishment or chastening from God is ever easy, pleasant and without pain. Nevertheless, we must believe that our Father in heaven, who is all-wise, all-knowing, and all-caring, knows just what to administer in terms of punishment. He knows the quantity and the length of time needed. If we trust our Father’s genuine and corrective love for us, we will not be against Him for any punishment. We will know that we need the chastening and we will thank Him for His tough, correcting love. In addition, as we endure we learn true, life-altering repentance.

Be enlightened, child of God! Recognise that you need the Holy Spirit to teach you Spiritual truths that are hidden from your blinded eyes. Only those who endure chastening will be dealt with as sons and daughters. All His children must endure.

Doesn’t this Word bring peace, to your questioning mind and will?