WISE CHASTISEMENT

Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears. Contrast of Sinai and Zion (Hebrews 12:14-17)


Chastisement doesn’t mean an actual whip, though with some it may include it, when they haven’t strength enough, or love enough, for the higher, better level. It means instruction, information, training, that a man can see where he is wrong. But it means more, doing it so lovingly, tactfully, patiently, that he not only knows he’s been wrong, but he wants to do right; and, more yet, he makes a start that way.

“The Bent Knee Time” Samuel D. Gordon