The Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastens everyone He
accepts as His son. Hebrews 12:6
What is the purpose of sonship? It is to bring us into a place
of spiritual responsibility. God never puts responsibilities upon ‘official
people,’ but upon sons. Therefore He has to train us as children in order to
develop sonship in us, to bring us there where we can take responsibilities for
God. He seeks to bring us to a state of spiritual maturity, to full growth.
This cannot be done in some Bible school, or by putting people ‘into the
ministry.’ God never works on an official side. Oh yes, God does take us into
His school. He can also take us into His school in some training institute. And
it is a blessed thing if He does it.
But God’s school is something very different from mere scholarly
activity. His Word says: “My son, regard not lightly the chastening of the
Lord, nor faint when thou art reproved of Him; for whom the Lord loves He
chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” Note this word “whom He
receives.” The exact meaning in the Greek is not ‘receives,’ but “whom He
positions” or places. It is a matter of position. God is seeking to develop a
state in us where He can trust us. When God is dealing with us, there is behind
it a wonderful assurance that He is going to put His trust in us. He is
bringing us into a position of trust. We do not just want to be servants, bits
of a machine, but sons who have become one with the Father, and in whose hands
He can put spiritual responsibilities. When we truly recognize this, we begin
to understand why God is dealing with us as He does. But because God is in it
we know that the end is sure. He will bring His children through.
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