Discplinary afflictions - rev. gitahi daniel
Disciplinary Afflictions are meant to train us so that we can mature into our God-given purposes.
This is better known as the school of the Spirit/God.
David was chosen and anointed by God. However he did not rise to his rightful throne immediately after his public ordination.
After his call, David was separated from his family. Saul, the then king in Israel, pursued him as a result of jealousy.
In the process, God took David to the wilderness to prepare him. According to history, this preparation period took sixteen years.
This was the same case with many others like Joseph. Joseph had dreams, that indicated greatness at just seventeen years. The same man translated the king's dream, which was his ticket to the palace, at thirty years.
After being called there is a process you will have to be taken through to come forth fine.
After the call, comes separation.
You are separated from people and situations that would otherwise stand in the way.
Then comes the process of preparations. This is the wilderness phase. It may take a while depending on how soon you will adopt God's character.
After one is fully prepared, they are fulfilled. This stage is called fulfillment.
Hosea 7:8 talks of Ephraim being like a half-baked cake.
In your wilderness, finish the course. It is meant to produce the best version of you.
Abraham too had to go through this popular process to finally become the father of nations, that God had chosen him to be.
He was first called. He was then separated even from Lot his nephew.
He went through the preparations phase, which took quite a number of years, and finally he was fulfilled.
The fulfillment phase saw God's promises to him come to light. It took Abraham 26 years between his call and fulfillment.
In Rom 5:3-5, the writer sheds light on what Godly afflictions are supposed to achieve.
1. Godly afflictions through tribulations produce perseverance (Rom 5:3)
2. Perseverance brings forth character.
This is the character of God. 1 Peter 2:21 'For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:'
This means that the type of decisions that Jesus made are the same that we should make.
If He never defended Himself after being put through humiliation, who are we?
3. Character produces hope.
According to Deut 29:5-6, the Israelites went through the wilderness for forty years without a change of clothes and shoes, yet they did not wear out.
God sustains His own while in the wilderness. In the period of preparations, there is sustenance and deliverance.
The wilderness is not supposed to destroy anyone but to produce the character of God in us.
In the wilderness you will not die or suffer from lack.
Deut 8:2 speaks of how God took the Israelites through the wilderness to humble them and test their hearts.
"And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not."
1 Cor 4:20 and Rom 14:17 tell us that the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating, talking, and drinking.
On the contrary, there is so much more that God wants to achieve through those that He has called into His marvellous light.
Train yourself to look beyond the challenges and hardships. Read between the lines for what God is doing in every instance.
Deut 8:5 'You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you.'