After my last post, I've felt God tweaking my conscience a bit. I've heard Lynn Anderson singing "I beg your pardon. I never promised you a rose garden!" That has been followed up with Hebrews 12:4-11:
“ My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
For whom the LORD loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”
If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 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. (NKJV)
Chasten is not a word we use a lot these days. I had to look it up. It means "to inflict suffering upon for purposes of moral improvement." Love this definition: "To rid of excess; refine or purify."
So while I do want good things for my children, more than anything, I want them to become holy. So please Lord, do as we've all sung so many times in church.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence humbly I bow.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!
Power, all power, surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit ’till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.
This verse speaks to me two fold. One, in what you are saying, yes a parents it is natural to want peace for our kids, but that isn't really what God designed because hardships create character. In the second way as a confirmation about my correction of the kids as they fail to obey sometimes in their day. I ended up in an intense discussion about my expectations as a mom. I was told that - because I expect obedience and when it doesn't happen, I, in the words of the verse, chastise or rebuke them in whatever way is appropriate consistently every time - I am legalistic and too strict. I was told that I need to extend more "grace" her word and not be consistent in training them. I was able to hold my ground with her but left the discussion questioning myself. I immediately went to the Lord asking for a confirmation that correcting my children is lovingly building their character the way it is laid out int he Bible. Here is that confirmation. The scripture talks about chastening from a parent and from our Lord. Thank you so much for sharing this and the definition that I thought I knew but didn't really.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
mommyhoodadventures.blogspot.com
that is a great hymn! Thank you for your post today!
ReplyDeleteKristine
www.mamaarcher.com