For thought and meditation

[rl69]

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.—Hebrews 12:5–6 (http://harvest.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4f108f827aed8d503b5fca9fa&id=519c042e9d&e=3dd732485b)Some people say that guilt is a horrible thing. In reality, guilt is a design God has put in our souls. It is similar to the pain we feel in our bodies when something is wrong. If I'm walking down the street barefoot and step on a piece of broken glass, a signal goes through my body, saying, "Red alert! Don't step any further!" The pain effectively warns me that more pain is coming unless I stop.

In the same way, when we experience guilt, our conscience says, "Warning! Don't do that." That is the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

When someone who claims to be a Christian can live in sin without sensing it, then something is seriously wrong. I know we aren't perfect. I know we all fall short of the glory of God. But there is a difference between stumbling unintentionally and being sorry for it and living in habitual, continual sin without any pangs of conscience, guilt, or remorse.

If this is happening in your life, then it means your conscience is being "seared with a hot iron" (1 Timothy 4:2). As the Bible says in Hebrews 12, "If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?" (verse 7). In other words, if you are a child of God, when you begin to cross the line, the Holy Spirit will be there to say, "No, don't do that."

That very conviction is a reminder that you are a child of God. So rejoice when you feel guilt. Thank God for guilt.

If you can live in sin without any guilt or remorse, then one must question whether you are a child of God. Throw on the brakes if this is happening to you.

[USMC87]

Excellent lesson, I can tell of the chastening of God toward me. If a christian goes without chastening for a while it don't mean God will not get them back on track because Gods time is not ours. I hear people say "I saw him do this and he claims to be a christian" Yes we still do things but God is just in judgement and "will" correct His children. Thank God for His correction toward me.

[GhostHawk]

I heard I story once, that an old indian told about our conscience.

He said it was like a 3 sided triangle, all sharp edges.

The indian said for most people it seldom moves. But when we do something we know is wrong it moves in our heart, and it hurts.

But if you ignore the pain, defy the warning. Eventually the heart builds up scar tissue and callus.
And then it can be turning all the time and you won't feel it.

The moral being to pay attention and listen to the warning.
Or perhaps you will drift to the dark side.

[Blackwater]

What a great lesson! We in our mortal senses, tend to think of pain as "bad," but pain WAS given us for a REASON, and that reason was exactly as stated - as a warning something is seriously wrong and that we're to stop, and avoid further pain. I have seen a few sons just resent totally and violently the efforts of correction and discipline of their fathers. This NEVER led to anything but great heartbreak, from which, they also rebelled in a like manner, and brought FURTHER pain on themselves. These few were a rather obvious object lesson in the true value of discipline and punishment. I've trained a number of bird dogs in my time, and some, you had to discipline heavily and often, or they'd do what THEY wanted, and waste your whole day afield, and theirs. Others, you couldn't raise your voice to very much, or it'd crush them so that they couldn't do anything right. We humans are not unlike that at all, too, and I've seen it often.

Accepting God's wrath is a key to not having to see His wrath any more than we have to. What a crucial lesson if we're to prosper and enjoy all that God has given us, if only we'll learn to use it in accord with His will!