THE LORD DISPLINES THOSE HE LOVES

According to Matthew 5:22, 29-30 and Luke 12:4-5, the suffering in our early bodies is small compared to the "fire of hell." Therefore God's feelings of mercy ("compassion's") may at times move Him to even use earthly pain to try to keep us from far greater eternal pain.

God does not have to make up special pain just for us. In this world, which has left God, pain is already with us! But God can sometimes use that pain to help us. When a doctor cuts into the body to remove a diseased part, does this mean that the doctor is uncaring and unwise? Just the opposite is true. He cuts because he cares and wishes to heal. He knows that the pain of this cut is far better than the suffering and death of the spreading disease. In the same way, God sends "judgments" even before the final judgment.

Is this because He is uncaring? It is BECAUSE HE CARES so much! As the prophet Isaiah said, "When Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness" (Isaiah 26:9).

In fact, it can be said that the more God cares, the more He corrects us. "The Lord disciplines those He loves....Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness" (Hebrews 12:6,10).

Life's trials tend to make unbelievers more bitter. But believers keep trusting in the great truth that "His love endures forever" (Psalm 136). Therefore they let themselves be "trained" by the pain of correction. In this way they reap the "harvest of righteousness and peace" (Hebrews 12:11). When many blessings do not turn people back to God, He may try another way. He may use even the curses and sorrows that are already at work in the earth because of sin.

An example of this was given by the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah's people enjoyed seasons of plenty. Yet these good times did not turn their hearts to God (Jeremiah 5:24). Later came their times of great trouble, war and famine. God tried through these to show His people the result of their sin. "Your sins have deprived you of good" (Jeremiah 5:25). Still they would not listen. Finally their capital city, Jerusalem, was destroyed. Many of them were killed or made slaves.

In the book of Lamentations,Jeremiah tells of his tears as he watched his people starve and die in Jerusalem. Yet he knew how much God had tried to win them back. God had tried by means of both good times and bad times. So, even in great sorrow, Jeremiah could still say,

"The LORD'S compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23).

He gives us time to learn and to turn to Him, before it is too late.

God Loves you.he wants to gives his best for you,he wants to bless you and enjoy his gift of eternal life