I Am Not Christ
Understanding God's Chastening: Why We Need Jesus and How to Respond to His Discipline
Living by faith requires understanding a fundamental truth that many Christians struggle with: we are called to be like Christ, but we are not Christ. This distinction shapes how we approach our relationship with God, especially when we face His loving discipline.
What Does It Mean to Live By Faith?
Living by faith means making choices that align with God's Word and Spirit, not our own understanding. When we choose to live by faith, we acknowledge that "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" - but this doesn't mean we can do anything we want. It means we can do all things when we're living in Christ, in spirit and truth.
Our lives are meant to be lived in worship, bringing glory to God alone. This requires walking after the Spirit rather than the flesh, understanding that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Why Do We Fail Even When Trying to Follow Jesus?
The reality is that we will fail in our attempts to walk faithfully. We forget, forsake, or simply fall short of living as God desires. This happens because we are not Christ - we are sinful beings who need Him.
When we fail, there's a crucial difference between conviction and condemnation:
The Danger of Trying to Be Jesus
One of the biggest mistakes we make is trying to be Jesus instead of following Jesus. When we replace who He is with who we are and what we can accomplish, we become weary in well-doing. We get tired of trying to live for Jesus because we're actually trying to be Jesus.
How Should We Respond When We Face Trials?
When difficulties come our way, we often want to identify with Job, thinking we're suffering for God's glory. However, most of our trials are about God refining us, not about us being like Christ in His suffering. God is knocking off the rough edges and cleaning us up to make us look more like Christ.
Understanding God's Chastening
Scripture tells us that "whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth." This chastening is proof of God's love, not His anger. When God reveals that we're the problem, He's saying "I love you, son."
The Bible warns that if we're without chastisement, we're not true sons but illegitimate children. Many people walk away from faith because they don't like how God deals with them, but this shows immaturity - holding God to expectations He never promised while He does what He has promised.
What's the Difference Between Chastening and Judgment?
There's an important distinction between God's loving chastening and His judgment. Sometimes God's discipline comes as a "course correction" - clear consequences for our actions. But often, His chastening is more like a disappointed parent whose heart is broken by our choices.
This heartbreak manifests as a distant, disappointed presence rather than immediate punishment. When we grieve the Holy Spirit, God becomes distant not because He's angry, but because He's heartbroken.
God's Goodness Leads to Repentance
God isn't waiting to punish us when we sin - He's waiting to hold us, embrace us, and sanctify us. He's waiting for us to remember that true contentment is only found in Him. It's God's goodness, not His wrath, that leads us to repentance.
When we make peace with God (and He's already at peace with us), it becomes much easier to be at peace with others.
Life Application
This week, challenge yourself to examine your relationship with God honestly. Are you trying to be Jesus, or are you following Jesus? When you face difficulties, instead of immediately assuming you're being persecuted for righteousness' sake, ask yourself if God might be lovingly correcting something in your life.
Remember that God's chastening comes from love, not anger. If you're experiencing His discipline, thank Him for caring enough about you to shape your character. If you've been distant from God, remember that He's not waiting to punish you - He's waiting to restore you.
Questions for Reflection:
Am I trying to be Jesus instead of following Jesus in my daily walk?
When I face trials, do I immediately blame others or circumstances, or do I first examine my own heart?
How do I respond to God's correction - with gratitude for His love or with resentment?
Am I living by faith in God's Word and Spirit, or am I relying on my own strength and understanding?
Living by faith requires understanding a fundamental truth that many Christians struggle with: we are called to be like Christ, but we are not Christ. This distinction shapes how we approach our relationship with God, especially when we face His loving discipline.
What Does It Mean to Live By Faith?
Living by faith means making choices that align with God's Word and Spirit, not our own understanding. When we choose to live by faith, we acknowledge that "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" - but this doesn't mean we can do anything we want. It means we can do all things when we're living in Christ, in spirit and truth.
Our lives are meant to be lived in worship, bringing glory to God alone. This requires walking after the Spirit rather than the flesh, understanding that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Why Do We Fail Even When Trying to Follow Jesus?
The reality is that we will fail in our attempts to walk faithfully. We forget, forsake, or simply fall short of living as God desires. This happens because we are not Christ - we are sinful beings who need Him.
When we fail, there's a crucial difference between conviction and condemnation:
- Conviction leads to godly sorrow and repentance
- Condemnation keeps us in bondage to past sins and comes from our flesh and Satan
The Danger of Trying to Be Jesus
One of the biggest mistakes we make is trying to be Jesus instead of following Jesus. When we replace who He is with who we are and what we can accomplish, we become weary in well-doing. We get tired of trying to live for Jesus because we're actually trying to be Jesus.
How Should We Respond When We Face Trials?
When difficulties come our way, we often want to identify with Job, thinking we're suffering for God's glory. However, most of our trials are about God refining us, not about us being like Christ in His suffering. God is knocking off the rough edges and cleaning us up to make us look more like Christ.
Understanding God's Chastening
Scripture tells us that "whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth." This chastening is proof of God's love, not His anger. When God reveals that we're the problem, He's saying "I love you, son."
The Bible warns that if we're without chastisement, we're not true sons but illegitimate children. Many people walk away from faith because they don't like how God deals with them, but this shows immaturity - holding God to expectations He never promised while He does what He has promised.
What's the Difference Between Chastening and Judgment?
There's an important distinction between God's loving chastening and His judgment. Sometimes God's discipline comes as a "course correction" - clear consequences for our actions. But often, His chastening is more like a disappointed parent whose heart is broken by our choices.
This heartbreak manifests as a distant, disappointed presence rather than immediate punishment. When we grieve the Holy Spirit, God becomes distant not because He's angry, but because He's heartbroken.
God's Goodness Leads to Repentance
God isn't waiting to punish us when we sin - He's waiting to hold us, embrace us, and sanctify us. He's waiting for us to remember that true contentment is only found in Him. It's God's goodness, not His wrath, that leads us to repentance.
When we make peace with God (and He's already at peace with us), it becomes much easier to be at peace with others.
Life Application
This week, challenge yourself to examine your relationship with God honestly. Are you trying to be Jesus, or are you following Jesus? When you face difficulties, instead of immediately assuming you're being persecuted for righteousness' sake, ask yourself if God might be lovingly correcting something in your life.
Remember that God's chastening comes from love, not anger. If you're experiencing His discipline, thank Him for caring enough about you to shape your character. If you've been distant from God, remember that He's not waiting to punish you - He's waiting to restore you.
Questions for Reflection:
Am I trying to be Jesus instead of following Jesus in my daily walk?
When I face trials, do I immediately blame others or circumstances, or do I first examine my own heart?
How do I respond to God's correction - with gratitude for His love or with resentment?
Am I living by faith in God's Word and Spirit, or am I relying on my own strength and understanding?
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