Universal Language

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"He who spares his cane hates his son; but he who loves him disciplines him promptly" (Prov 13:24)

God generally warns His people through His Word and Spirit. When they do not give heed to His warnings He will be forced to use the rod of correction. Even a small child understands a cane! The cane is the most powerful attention-getter! It works instant miracles as every parent knows! The writer of Hebrews warns, "See that you do not refuse Him who speaks" (Heb 12:25). The Heavenly Father has no spoilt children. He loves them too much to allow that (v6). God punishes us most when He punishes us not!

Traffic accidents are becoming common. True we have the promise that God's angels shall keep us in all our ways (Psa 91:11,12). The Lord is our Protector and He neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psa 121:4). But in a surge of anger, He may hide His face from us for a moment (Isa 54:7,8). Which father will be silently watching his son going the wrong way? The donkey crushed the prophet's foot against a wall when he went against God's perfect will (Num 22:25). Another prophet was thrown away from a ship into the sea because of disobedience. He landed inside the belly of a large fish. There he repented and found time to prepare his next sermon! This does not mean that all accidents are God's punishments, but we must take an immediate stock of our lives when unpleasant things happen (Job 13:23).

Has holiness taken to wings? God wills that His children hate sin with perfect hatred and love righteousness with perfect love. He does not lay down the pruning knife until we become like His eldest Son. God Himself testified that Job was more upright than anyone else in his times (Job 1:8). But after going through God's furnace, at the end of the book, Job confessed to God, "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42:5,6).

When King Hezekiah became proud, God declared that his days were numbered. Hezekiah wept bitterly and repented. God forgave him and extended his life. It was then he sang, "I will walk humbly all my years because of this anguish of my soul" (Isa 38:15). The blessedness of suffering!

It is necessary to heal the pride of my heart
that trials should come!
(George Whitefield, 1714-1770, Prince of Open-air Preachers)

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