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"No chastening seems to be joyful for the present..."

Text: Hebrews 12:11

THE EXPERIENCE OF CHASTENING

Chastening is difficult to comprehend at times. It is probably even harder to accept or to submit to it! Yet we must ever try to understand the significance of the chastening experience.

“Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present,
but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable
fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
Hebrews 12:11

1. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present but painful

a) Chastening (“paideia”) has several shades of application:-

i) It can refer to discipline.

ii) It can simply refer to firm instruction.

iii) It can certainly refer to correction.

b) No chastening seems to be joyful

i) From the perspective of a child; or a person who resists correction.

ii) The lack of joy is often because of personal reaction.

iii) Admittedly some forms of correction can be painful.

2. Nevertheless, afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

a) The experience of chastening must be comprehended from the perspective of its fruit.

b) Chastening may also be understood better when we realize that it is part of God’s way of training our souls.

c) What is the end result?

i) The fruit is “personal righteousness”.

ii) The problems that were addressed have been corrected effectively.

iii) With the fruit of righteousness is a deep sense of peace and well-being.