Hebrews 12:4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Hebrews 10:32-34 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.
If it’s any consolation, the Bible says, YOUR SUFFERING HAS NOT KILLED YOU. HAS IT? It says, ‘In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.’ Wow! Simply put, THIS ALSO SHALL PASS; IT WON’T KILL YOU.
I know the recent Expositions on chastening and suffering is not what many will want to hear. But truth is not always palatable, is it? But it’s necessary nonetheless. And if you have the spirit of truth in you, it will always give you an inner witness when you hear truth; For Truth is known by Herself.
A lot of people, and even ministers of God who have certain moral flaws even though they occupy high positions and offices, have mostly DODGED some discipline and shame that was meant to remove the defect when they were growing up.
When for instance, a young minister engages in an act of fornication and he is told he is going to be rebuked publicly. He has 2 choices: Accept the discipline or Decline and possibly leave the church. Now, that public discipline will be very shameful and painful but that might be what he needs to remove that defect. If this minister evades the discipline, he might have avoided the public shame but he is likely to grow with that defect. He might become a big Bishop tomorrow, who has infidelity problems with women.
This is why the Bible says to every child of God,
“My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:” (Proverbs 3:11)
Be blessed Child of God!
GRACEFUL MORNING
