Does he

Does he, or does he not punish us?

I was told years ago that God doesn’t punish us because I made a statement that I felt God had or was punishing me. But since that time everything I have read, including the bible tells me that God does chasten those he loves.

⁵And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
"My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when
you are rebuked by Him:

⁶For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”

⁷If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? (Hebrews 12:5-7).

           No, God does not punish us unjustly. Often we are the one’s who steps into and determines our punishment. God may allow what we bring on ourselves to chasten us. We suffer the consequences that follow our actions.   In this way he is disciplining us.

          For example, if we run out in the street in front of a car and get hit, it is our action that caused us to be hit by the car.   You ask, “Is that punishment?” Well anyone whose ever been hit by a car will probably tell you that it certainly feels like it.

           God did not cause us to run out in front of the car. We did, by our actions. He may have allowed the car to hit and injure us to teach us not to do it again and to be more cautious in what we do next time. Thus, we learn to be obedient to the spirit.

Our sin has made us undergo the punishment.   The consequences have scolded and punished us (caused us pain). Have we not learned to be more cautious through the pain we suffer.

          So has he therefore punished and/or disciplined us?

Next time you are going through trials and feel that God is punishing you, ask yourself; “What did I do to cause this? If I did nothing to cause this, what is God trying to teach me.?” For it may be that you did nothing and God is only teaching you a valuable lesson.

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Definitions:

Punish: make someone undergo a punishment.
Chastise: to punish or scold
Discipline: making or teaching one to obey rules.

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