126. Wala ka sa Lolo ko. For him, those whom God loves He rebukes and disciplines.

14 March 2021
Photo by Brett Jordan from Unsplash

Those whom God loves He rebukes and disciplines.

Revelation 3
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 
20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.


If one gets infected with covid, most likely he will resort to earnest prayer for healing, and will request family and friends to intercede for him in prayer.

We will probably not seek God's presence in the pink of health, in the comfort of life, in the peak of success. We don't need the help of others at those times.


We will encounter God in our lowest points, in sickness, in the storms of life, in our failures, when we are at our wit's end, in affliction, when we do not know what to do, when our abilities count to nothing.

I have a friend, an OFW in Kuwait; we last saw each other in August 2007 when I exited expecting a job in Turkmenistan which did not happen. Instead, I contracted Stevens-Johnson syndrome in August 2008, and got employed locally since then.

I got reconnected thru fb with this friend just about a week ago. He is still in Kuwait, he came home for vacation in January 2020; he contracted covid months after, in May. His employment is on single status, meaning his family cannot be around to care for him. He said he might have gotten infected during panic-buying at the supermarket.

He exhibited serious symptoms, severe cough, he must have feared for his life.

He recounted back when we were together in Kuwait, seeing me active in church. Many OFWs become active in church compared when they were in the Philippines before being employed abroad.

This friend of mine said that after recovering from covid, he has been active in church, indirectly saying his gratitude to God for giving him a second life.

This friend of mine encountered God in a very powerful way, about 14 years after we last saw each other. In some personal way similar how I encountered God almost 17 years ago, when I went through severe affliction over 5 years, which I would share with this friend when we were together back in Kuwait.

"God Disciplines His Children

And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:5-11)

Hebrews 4
7 God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:
“Today, if you hear his voice,
    do not harden your hearts.”


Sharing my prayer, part of my reflection 31 October 2017.

"Lord, Your word says, "Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown" (Revelation 2:10). "This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus" (Revelation 14:12). Lord, I pray for persecuted Christians around the world, give them strength to endure suffering. Lord, let them "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Romans 12:12). Lord give them Your comfort, this I pray in Jesus' name. Amen."



"Wala ka sa Lolo ko. For him, those whom God loves He rebukes and disciplines.", this my children's children will utter someday.

May you be blessed with God's Word. Amen.

Maraming salamat.

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