GOD Chastens EVERY Son or Daughter – From Love

"Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood. He made a pit and dug it out, and has fallen into the ditch which he made. His trouble shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown." Psalm 7:14-16 Yes, that is their fate. But in the meantime they prosper while the child of God is chastened. Have you ever wondered why suffering comes upon the good while many of the wicked go on in prosperity? King David said that he almost fell because of that very thing: "But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." Psalm 73:2-3 David was chastened by the Lord, and if you've been chastened by the Lord you know how painful that can be. What some believers don't realize though, is that God's purpose in bringing chastening on a believer is for the person's good. "If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons, for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons." Hebrews 12:7-8 We are all sinners and there is a lot that the Lord needs to cleanse us from. Even the greatest king of all - King David - had to go through it. The Scripture goes on to say that the end result is more than worth it: vs 11: "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." But that's hard to keep in mind when you are in the midst of that chastening. You may feel it will never stop, because pain follows pain. And in that condition, one is tempted to envy the rich of this world who seem to have all go well with them. As King David goes on to say: "They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like other men. Therefore PRIDE serves as their necklace; Their eyes bulge with abundance; They have more than heart could wish." Psalm 73:5-6 One wearied by suffering can come to wonder whether it's ever going to end, especially as the picture of the prosperity of others is constantly in their face. vs 12-14: "Behold, these are the ungodly who are always at ease; they increase in riches. Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence. For all day long I have been plagued, And chastened every morning." Such was the state of King David while he was suffering greatly under the hand of the Lord. He cried out to the Lord about this and the Lord answered him. The answer was chilling - but when he understood it, he never again entered into that pity party. vs 16-17: "It was too painful for me ...UNTIL I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood ... THEIR END." Yes, their end will settle it all, won't it! But not so for you. If you are suffering under the chastening of the Lord, just accept it and know that it is meant for your good. It's the process of maturing you. It brings conviction on your priorities. But it WILL end. It WILL be behind you. And in the meantime, you are being brought into the beauty of holiness and righteousness that only suffering can bring about, and when the trial is over, great will be your blessing. "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, THOUGH IT IS TESTED BY FIRE, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ..." 1 Peter 1:6-7 Surrender to the Lord's chastening knowing it is part of his plan for your life. Cooperate with him. Later, you WILL be greatly blessed and you will marvel at how necessary the process was.