…As chastened… 2Corinthians 6:9 "As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed". As Chastened, disciplined, punished, corrected! Chastened, and disciplined that I may partake of His holiness and be made conformable to His image... As chastened... a child who is open to divine corrections. Never becoming a “Master” who is unbridled, uncontrollable... Whose neck has never been broken... No matter how I grow in life and in ministry; no matter how men run around for me; no matter how popular I seem to become with men; no matter how large following I command... I must remain “as chastened”: I must walk under the discipline and correction of my Father and of whosoever He appoints to chastise me any time I stray... I must not grow beyond the Father’s chastening. It is His right and yet my privilege to be chastened of Him from time to time. Heb 12. 5, 6, 7, 11 “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the LORD, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him; for whom the LORD loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth... If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not...? Now, no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” As chastened... It is safer for me to remain under the discipline of the Father. No matter how grievous, it is to my advantage it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness and makes me become more like Jesus. It opens a door for me to partake of His holiness and hence His glory. …As chastened... Not unbridled! Not a free ranger! Colleagues may ridicule me for being under discipline at my age; others may fly upon the privilege of being independent masters of themselves... but I must remain “as chastened”. My chastening at the moment may lead to my being “gagged”, “imprisoned” and “tied down”. It may place upon me, regulations I must not violate; it may limit my activities. Others may be free to eat anyhow and go anywhere. LORD, help me to remain “as chastened”! Help me to embrace Thine chastening joyfully. Help me to walk all through life as chastened! Flog me when necessary! Block me when it is appropriate in Thy wisdom! Break, if it is the needed strategy to use... Roast me if I need to be made more flexible... Twist my hand to release its holdings if I become sticky and stingy... LORD I only ask that I will not be like the mule that is stubborn and has to be forced unto a yoke! A child can remain under discipline and yet without the “cane”! Make me sensitive and obedient unto Thy chastening. Help me to sense the “frown” on your face at the wrong I am about LORD, help me always to walk and work in Thy presence “AS CHASTENED”. Amen.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Jun 2013 06:57:37 +0000