God Wants Your Obedience

PRAY OVER THIS

“‘For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.’”

(Hebrews 12:6)

 

PONDER THIS

As God confronts your sin, first comes conviction. When you’re convicted of your sin, if you confess and forsake your sin, you’ll receive mercy. But if you do not respond when God convicts you, the next step is chastisement. And that chastisement may take many forms. God will chastise you, not because He doesn’t love you, but because He does love you. God chastened David, and that’s what Psalm 32 is about. The hand of God was on David.

In today’s verse, the word scourge is a strong one. A scourge was a whip, like a cat-o'-nine-tails. The writer was not talking about a slap on the wrist. God is more interested in your obedience than He is your temporary happiness in the world. God will deal with you with chastisement as He confronts your sin, and He will do so because of His love for you.

When have you experienced the Lord’s chastisement over your sin?

What does it tell you about God’s love that He refuses to let you be content with your sin, even if you don’t desire change on your own?

PRACTICE THIS

Take a walk today and dwell on the truth that God refuses to let you stay the same and will pursue your nearness to Him in every circumstance.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers