“…so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you
from sinning.”
Exodus
20:20
“I’m going to take you to the woodshed!” If that statement was ever directed towards
you, it wasn’t a happy time. I can say
that I never doubted the love my parents have for me. I’ve always had peace knowing that they love me, that they
would care for me, that they would feed me (which
has never been a small task), and even when I objected when they said “no”
as we walked through the Toy section of the department store, down deep I knew
my needs would always be met.
I have always known that they love me, however, I have also
always known that correction awaited me when I was disobedient or defiant. One
night after a “moment of correction”, my mother sat beside me and said, “If I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t correct you.” That was a little hard to swallow at the
moment, but as time passed I came to understand.
My behavior has been molded by both..a hand of love…and a
hand of correction. The writer of
Hebrews states, “…the Lord disciplines
those He loves”…(ch. 12:6). Like a loving parent, God is molding us into
the people He created us to be. He molds us with both a hand of love and a
hand of correction.
The author writes, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose
heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he
loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son” (Hebrews 12: 5-6).
Ultimately, God is shaping you to be like
the Lord Jesus.
