God Reproves

“Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty.
Job 5:17
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God Reproves
“This is going to hurt me more that it will hurt you.”  These words have been uttered by countless parents through out time and will continue to be until the end of time.  And when the child hears these words their thought and maybe even their words are, “Then don’t do it!” Parents know their children will make mistakes from time to time and will need to be disciplined.  Disciplining of a child is never an enjoyable moment for the parent, yet they understand it must be done for the child to learn and grow from their mistakes.  The same is true of our heavenly Father.  He does not delight in the sins of His children; in fact, He abhors them.  They separate us from Him. So He gives us His Law, in order to show us our sins.  To feel contrition and repent, to appeal to our loving Father for mercy.  And mercy is shown.  On a Roman cross God “endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted” (Hebrews 12:3). Our punishment, for our sins, hurt God more than it ever hurt us, for our punishment was poured out upon His Son.  This is why, when suffering and discipline do come, we know we are loved by the Lord, for “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?” (Hebrews 12:7).