PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY - MEDITATE DAY AND NIGHT
Aug. 30th, 2026.
"And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, 'My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” (Heb. 12:5-6 NIV)
Generally, suffering is believed to be punishment for sins committed and this is very true most of the time. There are always consequences for our actions. "Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices." (Prov. 1:31) "I, the Lord, search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve." (Jer. 17:10) BUT what if the righteous suffer not because they did wrong? After all, Jesus Christ took all our sufferings to the Cross - why should the righteous (those who believe in Him) suffer? What if the suffering is to reshape us and to position us in better standing with Him?
There is a saying that we do not know the value of what we have until we lose it. Sometimes, the fact that some righteous people like Job have not tasted the bitter side of life is a problem. Their scale of knowledge is tilted. God always balances His scale. So, all of us will have a taste of the sweet and the bitter - not necessarily because of sin. A spoiled child is not the same as a disciplined child. “do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves…” (Heb. 12:6) It is hard to appreciate steady peace until trouble or loss arrives. Our experience of both good and bad makes us better arrows in His hand. It humbles us.
Job, during his discussions with his friends, insisted that he did not sin and that God was merely oppressing him. He wished that he could speak to God face to face for His explanation why he, Job, should suffer. (Job 27:2-6, 1:22) In the end, Job confessed - "My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42:5-6 NIV). See, Job was humbled.
Believers have the channel of forgiveness immediately when we confess and repent of sins committed. The Holy Spirit does not spare us of this and this means if we are obedient, our slate is always almost clean. Therefore, suffering for the righteous is training so that our hands can bend a bow of bronze. (Psa. 18:34) Our spines are straighter, our faith stronger, God becomes our first in everything.
THE WORD: "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings." (1 Pet. 4:12-13)
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