Reflections
For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives. (Heb 12:6)
The Father in heaven NEVER punishes his children. But the Lord does chastise us. There is an immense difference.
Punishment – under the normal use of the word – tends to be vindictive in nature. Punishment is not merely the satisfying of justice, and it is not necessarily redemptive. It is really the exacting of suffering as a payment. But such motives are not the Truth pertaining to God. God never punishes because these definitions are not the Truth about the character of the Father in heaven.
God does CHASTISE. The word, “chastise,” means, “to train a child.” It speaks of God’s intervention into our lives for the purpose of our good and His purpose. So even though we, like most children, may despise the chastening of the Lord, it is nevertheless because God loves us. He is doing it to guide us into all Truth and to form Christ in us.
Look up the word translated, “punish,” or, “punishment,” in the original languages. It really does carry the meaning of CHASTISE. God is a Redemptive God. All He does is for the good of those with whom He is dealing.
God scourges every son He RECEIVES. The word could be translated, “positions.” God is positioning us in Christ – building a relationship with Christ — for an eternal inheritance. He knows better than we know and is working out His purpose for us.