December 18, 2022

OUR CHASTENING

Deuteronomy 8:2-5

Now you shall remember the whole way the Lord your God led you in the desert, to deal harshly with you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. So He dealt harshly with you and weakened you with hunger, and fed you with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word proceeding from the mouth of God man shall live. Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your feet become callused these forty years. You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you.

Encouraging Words

I have often heard people comment that they cannot believe in a God that allows suffering. Believe me, our God grieves at the suffering that we bestow upon one another. We still live in a fallen world. God loves us so much that He sent His son, His only begotten son, into this world so that He could become one of us and suffer in the midst of our sinfulness. He lived a sinless life and gave His life as a sacrifice for us and to cleanse our sins. He will come again to restore creation to its original state before the fall. So, why is He waiting? So that more may know Him and be redeemed. Why must those of us who love Him have to suffer in our lives? So that we might grow in His image and gain theosis in our lives. God loves us more than we will ever understand. Glory be to God!