The Binding Love Of The Father

Hebrews 12:6 may be difficult for some to read or understand, but there is a glorious, rich promise of understanding the loving heart of the Father to those who accept the Lord's discipline. It reads, "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." (KJV).

The word scourge means to be tied to a post and whipped. For the rebellious, hard-headed, and sin bent son or daughter, God's remedy is to bind the prodigal to keep him or her from running back to a place of destruction. God never measures out a strong punishment and just leaves us in that condition. He heals, restores and receives us back into His loving arms.

Here are some things God works into our lives when we accept His discipline.

1. Sanctification: God desires to have us to Himself with no fleshly and worldly mixture. The work of sanctification is a work of separation. All associations, affiliations, ties etc. to this life is severed and we cleave to Christ. It’s Jacob limping after a long night of wrestling with an angel and the lover leaning on her beloved as she comes out of the wilderness. God’s wounding is to bring a certain death to the flesh so only the life of Christ possesses a man.

2. Purification: God desires a holy people. No greater battle is found in the mind where unclean and impure thoughts lodge and create strongholds (even strangleholds). Through chastening we are partakers of God’s holiness to Hebrews. And through the work of chastening we are able to obey the mandate to be holy as He is holy.

3. Restoration: God uses chastening to correct and restore the relationship of a Father to His son and daughter thus returning to His original intent. In this relationship trust in the Father’s care produces a confidence to believe Him for the impossible. This helps us move us beyond the wounding because God does not leave us in a pile of rubble but will rebuild us for His purpose.

4. Deliverance: God goes to the root of the issue in the heart by scourging or driving out the enemy within us. God’s chastening goes to the core of the problem unlike any other method to set us free from bondage. The bible says he who has suffered in the flesh, ceases from sin. For those suffering from addictive behaviors, God’s chastening hand breaks the power of both demonic and negative response patterns.

After the Lord severely discipline some years ago, I find myself quicker to confess sin, ready to forgive and a deeper love for Him. It's no wonder that on a particular day while alone in prayer, I raise both arms and clasp my hands together, as if to be handcuffed, and said to God, "Bind me to you for my heart wants to drift away!"