Love the Chastening of the Lord!

“The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile. Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law . . . .” Ps. 94:11-12.

Man seeks his own, contrary to God’s laws that instruct us to give and to serve. When man thinks, he thinks of his own advantage, and then he thinks he is smart. Yet we have always seen the poor results in their lives because of this. The person who wants to be rich has pierced himself with many sorrows. The one who wants to be honored has become envious, and the one who wants to enjoy life has become enslaved by his lusts. Man’s thoughts are truly futile.

But blessed is the man whom the Lord chastens, who is no more dead in his sins than that he senses the Lord’s chastisement and receives instruction from His law. The one who loves chastisement loves life. You can hear people express their thoughts with certainty about all kinds of things—but remember, that blessed is the man who receives instruction out of the law of the Lord. All man’s thoughts that strive against that law are futile. You will prosper on all your ways if you can find the laws of the Lord. If you are among those whom the Lord chastens, then you are also among those whom He protects from falling.

Sigurd Bratlie