King James Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Chastening From God
For: Wednesday December 08, 2010
Chapters: The Book of II Thessalonians
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-december-8

Details of Today's Chapters: Encouragement through tribulation, more on Christ's return, Satan to be revealed, confidence in the Lord, and work to eat.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
The word chasten means to correct by punishment, to discipline someone by restraint. The Bible says, “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” - Proverbs 3:11,12. If you are a child of God you can expect chastening once in a while. A lot of people mistake chastening from God as Him doing something evil. The word evil means doing something morally wrong or wicked and is usually accompanied by misfortune or suffering. God will not cause evil upon anyone, He can't, He's God. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” - James 1:13,14. While God does allow Satan to afflict us from time to time there is a difference between the suffering we go through by the evil we cause upon ourselves and the suffering we go through by God growing us into the people He created us to be.

The Book of II Thessalonians is the fourteenth book of the New Testament, fifty-third book of the Bible and contains three chapters. The author of this epistle (letter) is Paul and it was written to the church at Thessalonica, this was the second letter written to them by Paul shortly after the first as a means to correct some confusion going around regarding the first. The purpose of the letter was to instruct believers awaiting for the return of Jesus. What we are to learn from the book is that it is important to teach and live by the sound doctrine of the entire Bible. “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.” - II Thessalonians 2:15.

Accepting Christ as your Savior does not mean that you will not have to go through any more suffering, but it does mean that you will be able to better handle the suffering. Paul gives some encouragement to the believers of Thessalonica who were remaining faithful to God through affliction. “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;” - II Thessalonians 1:3-6.

While God may allow affliction in our lives He does reward us as we endure that affliction by remaining faithful to Him. “He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.” - Psalm 18:19-21. The word recompense means to repay, to reward one for their service, any person who endures affliction will be rewarded and you will see those rewards here on earth. Likewise, if any person causes affliction upon one of God's children their reward will be affliction themselves.

Everything that God does and allows in our lives is meant to guide us, correct us, strengthen us, and get us better prepared for Satan's attacks. On top of that it increases our faith in, gets us right with, and makes us a witness for Christ. “Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.” - II Thessalonians 2:14-17.

God has chosen you, He wants you to be His witness that a wonderful life can be achieved by trusting in His Son and remaining faithful to Him regardless of afflictions, whether it is caused by your own doing, Satan's attacks, or God's chastening. God loves you and wants the best for you. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose...For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8:2838,39. Praise God!

Be blessed, enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

Learn How Jesus Can Set You Free: http://www.godsprice.com
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com
Subscribe To This Devotional: devotions@imfollowingjesus.com