Hebrews 12:5 “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”
I fear that we take Solomon’s exhortation far too lightly; he instructs us this way, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). And, our Lord, Himself puts it this way, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15). And, John tells us, “this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (I John 5:3). While it is no longer necessary for us to keep Moses’ Laws for sacrificial worship and for the numerous feasts and holy days, it is certain that we are Commanded to “keep” (know and obey) our Lord’s Commandments for Worship, Moral Behavior, loving care for each other, and Allegiance to Him and to His Church. Like the Christian Hebrews, we need to pause and take stock of ourselves (compare our lives and behaviors to the Word of God) to see if we also “have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord” (see also, Proverbs 3:11-12)! In the following verses, it is made clear that God “chasteneth” us to correct our behaviors and attitudes and to sharpen our resolve to worship and serve Him in our daily walk and in His Blessed Church. It is human nature to “despise” “chastening” and to resist correction. On the other hand, to respond to our Lord’s “chastening”, to correct our ways, is to practically testify of our love for Him!