March 30 – LD 13, Day 5: Our Sonship Proven by Chastisement

Hebrews 12:5-8

What a remarkable word of God here in Hebrews 12 in connection with our sonship. How do we know that we are sons of God? In part, that confirmation comes in the way of trials and afflictions, in the way specifically of chastisement. Our loving Heavenly Father corrects the son whom He loveth. He does not look the other way and allow us to walk in all kinds of wicked behaviors. He makes it so that we are caught. We don’t get away with our sins.

And, the result is troubling for us. We have to suffer the consequences of our sins. Our sorrow for sin is tested. Are we sorrowful because we have offended our Heavenly Father, or is our sorrow due to the fact that we got caught? Our sorrow must be a sorrow for the sins we committed in offending our heavenly father. And, we must be thankful to our God who loves us so much that He will not allow us to continue indefinitely down the path of impenitence. So, rather than ask- why is God causing these afflictions in my life? Is this because He hates me?

We realize with thankful hearts - my Heavenly Father loves me as a child to such a degree that He is willing to stop me from destroying myself, my family, and my life. He causes my sin to be exposed so that I might humble myself before Him, repent, and go forward, trusting more fully His strength.