Hebrews 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Our parents chastised us. It wasn’t always to our profit. God chastises us for our profit. He designs the perfect chastisement that will properly make each of us into the person He wants us to be. God ponders our hearts and our goings. He then prescribes the perfectly designed discipline or chastisement that will profit us and make us more like Jesus Christ. God’s loving discipline makes us more holy. It is in our own best interest to yield to God’s loving chastisement. God does not chastise us to ruin us but to make us better. He chastises us as sons. We can feel secure in His love.

Proverbs 5:21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.
Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
Proverbs 24:12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

As God ponders, so must we. Often, God must chastise us, because we have strayed off the path that He has set for us. We are commanded to ponder. We must weigh in our mind the circumstances and consequences of the path we are on. We must carefully examine our hearts and actions, then give attention to what God is teaching us through chastisement. Proverbs 4:26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 

God desires this response: Hebrews 12:11-13: Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Ron Cox - Director of HOPE Ministry