You’re Protected Because You’re Chastised and Judged

English


I
Today, it is because you are chastised,
judged, and cursed
that you’re given protection,
you’re given protection.
It’s because you’ve suffered much
that you are protected.
If not, you would have long since
fallen into depravity.
This is not making things difficult for you
intentionally—
man’s nature is hard to change,
and it must be thus
for their dispositions to be changed.
Today, you do not even possess
the conscience or reason that Paul possessed,
nor do you even have his self-awareness.
You always have to be chastised and judged
in order for your spirits to be awakened.
Chastisement and judgment
are what is best for your life.
And when necessary,
there must also be the chastisement
of the facts coming upon you;
only then will you fully yield.
II
Your natures are such that
without chastisement and cursing,
you would be unwilling to bow your heads,
unwilling to yield.
Without the facts before your eyes,
there would be no effect.
You are too lowly and worthless in character!
Without chastisement and judgment,
it would be difficult for you to be conquered,
and hard for your unrighteousness
and disobedience to be overcome.
Your old nature is so deeply rooted.
If you were placed upon the throne,
you would not know your place in the universe,
much less where you were headed.
You do not even know where you came from,
so how could you know the Creator?
You do not even know where you came from,
so how could you know the Creator?
III
Without the timely chastisement
and curses of today,
your final day would have long since arrived.
That is to say nothing of your fate—
would not that be even more
in imminent danger?
Without this timely chastisement and judgment,
who knows how arrogant you would grow,
or how depraved you would become.
This chastisement and judgment
have brought you to today,
and they have preserved your existence,
they have preserved your existence.
You have absolutely no ability
to control and reflect upon yourselves.
Should you not do better in accepting
the chastisement and judgment of today?
What other choices do you have?
What other choices do you have?

from The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. Practice (6)