Chastened by the Father of Spirits

Chastened by the Father of Spirits

“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.” Heb. 12:9-10.

Our human fathers correct us so we can learn to be obedient and well behaved during the “few days” we are here on this earth.

If the chastening that children receive from their parents is beneficial, then the chastening of the Father of spirits is far more beneficial. He chastens us so we can partake of His holiness and glory and live together with Him and the saints for all eternity. We need to be chastened and nurtured to fit into and fill out our place in this glorious company in the heavenly mansions.

God breathed the breath of life into man when He created him. He is the Father of all human spirits. However, sin has entered into all of them, and they have, to a greater or lesser extent, become the dwelling place of all kinds of evil and impure spirits. None of us are fit for that exalted, pure, and holy company in the heavenly mansions.

God jealously yearns for the spirit He let dwell in us. Jas. 4:5. He wants to purify and sanctify it and fill it with His fullness of wisdom and goodness. This is how God works with us for as long as we live. He chastens us for our eternal profit so we might become partakers of His holiness. Seeing we have shown reverence to our parents because they chastened us, should we not show much more reverence to the Father of spirits and be obedient to Him? He chastens us to be obedient to His Word.

“He who disdains chastisement despises his own soul, but he who heeds reproof gets understanding. The fear of the Lord is chastisement to wisdom, and before honor is humility.” Prov. 15:32-33. If we love life, we also love chastisement. Then we are thankful for being instructed and corrected, because our goal is to be conformed to the image of Christ, and we are thankful for everything that can serve to lead us closer to this goal.

We are blessed if we know that we are being chastened and nurtured by the Father of spirits. He loves us, and all His chastening is done in love. We are His genuine sons, and He wants to make us into worthy brothers of His Son Jesus Christ so we can inherit all things together with Him. As we continue to read and hear God’s Word and apply it in our lives, we will become aware of the chastisement of grace that guides our feet into the steps of Christ, into His life and His being. It is a great experience when we become aware of His chastening for the least deviation in our thought life! We read about all patience and longsuffering and about having a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him! Col. 1:9-10. We read about rejoicing always, being thankful for all things, and being exceedingly glad when people speak all manner of evil against us. We shall love our enemies, bless them, and pray for them. Our whole life shall be an offering and a sacrifice, so it is a pleasant aroma before God. Yes, we can even receive a purified tongue so we can be as the mouth of God! When we come together, we shall encourage one another to love and good works. How is it in this area? We shall also be His own special people, zealous for good works, and we shall give all diligence to add virtue to our faith. How is it in the area of prayer, thanksgiving, and praise?

We do not attain to this life in one day, but if we love chastisement and are humble and obedient to the Father of spirits, we will be transformed from glory to glory to such a life. 2 Cor. 3:18. This is made possible because of His deep love for us and our deep love for Him.

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ . . . .” Tit. 2:11-13.