Brother Mike,

I have been studying and wondered if you can explain when we are chastised and scourgeth mean (Heb-12-6). If we are having physical illness, ailments, emotional upsets, does this mean we are being chastised by Christ to teach us something? I know that spiritual growth and maturing is more important than going through physical, temporal pain, set backs whether financial, or whatever. These all can cause us to trust God to work his will in our lives knowing he works all things according to his purpose.
The flesh hates to go through any trials, but as the word declares, we must live by every word of God, not by physical bread alone. When you can and have time you can tell me so I can understand chastisement.

Praying daily for the body and your family
Brother in Christ
J____

Hi J____,

You ask about chastening and scourging. You are right. God uses both physical and emotional pain as the fire of our trials. The words ‘fire… chastening… and scourging,” are all talking about the same chastening grace we all must endure. All three words are simply ways of expressing God’s wrath in which we abide until we repent of our sins, rebellions, ungodliness and unrighteousnesses.

Joh 3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

I used to struggle to understand whether God’s wrath was poured out on us via the actions of others persecuting us, or if it were poured out on us as the result of our own evil deeds. The truth is that God uses any and all means at His disposal to accomplish His work of His chastening grace in our lives:

Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12  Teaching [ Greek, paideuo, chastening] us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; [ Greek, aion, age].

You ask:

If we are having physical illness, ailments, emotional upsets, does this mean we are being chastised by Christ to teach us something?

If there is any truth to the following words, then yes, God is teaching us something in all things:

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Rom 8:28  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.

So God really is working all things, good and evil, “together for good.”
I hope that answers your question. If not be sure to let me know.
Your brother in Christ,
Mike