I

Today, it is because you are chastised, judged, and cursed that 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?

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. 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?

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