Revelation 3:19
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
When Christ rebuked the church in Laodicea with stern and severe words, He wanted them to know that it was His love for them that resulted in such sharp words of rebuke – “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten”. To rebuke one’s sins is not to find fault or being unjustly captious. Nor is it hypocritical nitpicking in an impatient, bitter, retaliatory spirit. Its actual intent is not to destroy a good person or action. It is the setting of sin clearly and convincingly before the mind and conscience of the erring person to convict and to turn him to the path of righteousness. It springs from nothing but pure love of a person when he sees someone whom he loves errs in his ways, which is exactly what Christ did to the erring Laodiceans.
If need be, the Lord will also “chasten” His people. The word “chasten” describes acts of discipline, correction and corporeal punishment to change one’s sinful and unwise behaviour. The Lord’s chastening can be an unpleasant and painful experience for erring Christians. Nevertheless, it is not to be confused with the wrath or the ultimate judgment of God. Its purpose is to correct and restore us to the ways of truth and holiness. It is done with love like that of a parent, who applies the rod of correction on his erring child. “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” (Hebrews 12:5-7).
One chastened servant of God confesses in Psalm 118:18, “The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.” Hebrews 12:11 says, “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.” The purpose of painful chastising is to lead the erring believers to repentance and to restore them to God’s blessing (cf. Jeremiah 31:18-19; Psalm 94:12). The Lord’s love for His people requires that they quickly quit the sins which they had embraced; hence His injunction to the Laodicean Christians: “be zealous therefore, and repent.” Dearly beloved, no more hesitating! Rather, be wholehearted and earnest to turn to God from our sins. The Lord desires us to come to Him in repentance, humility and commitment to do His unerring will.