“Blows and wounds scrub away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being.”
My pastor use to say, “Some see the light, others feel the heat.” Certain people respond to discipline rather than kindness in their battle with sin. Punishment, feeling the heat, is more effective in steering them away from sin. Blows and wounds are not gentle, they are very painful. Another translation is stripes, indicating severe punishment. At times it can seem God has abandoned the person receiving such painful instances in their life. The opposite is often true. God is showing great love by doing whatever it takes to turn one of His beloved children from the even greater pain and destruction of sin. Once when asked why God allowed such a painful situation in another’s life a wise old saint responded that they had no way of telling what exactly was the story transpiring in the other persons life. That is true for all of us. But, He replied, I assure you it is out of love. We are never to judge what God is up to in someone else’s life but we can always safely assume it’s motivation on the Saviors part is love. Today embrace God’s discipline in your story as an indication of His love. #BeTheEdge
“because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Hebrews 12:6 NIV
