PSALM 142:5 – Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it . . .
THEME OF THE DAY. RESPONDING TO LOVING CORRECTION. Let’s be honest. No one likes to be told we are wrong, in need of correction, or have something addressed in our lives that requires change. Oh, we know as Christians this is a daily occurrence in our walks with the Lord. The Christian life is a life of change, and yes, correction. The writer of Hebrews calls this work of God “discipline” or “chastisement” – “And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? ‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.’ 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:5-11). But how does God do this work of correction in our lives? Let’s consider three ways.
First, God corrects His children by His preached Word. The Apostle Paul exhorts a young preacher named Timothy with these words, “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:1-2). The most important trait in good Bible churches is the centrality of its pulpit. Preaching is the primary means God uses to reach the lost and grow His children. Make sure we are regularly sitting under the public proclamation of the Word. And do it in person. Podcasts, cd’s and internet streaming are not acceptable substitutes for faithful attendance to God’s preached Word in local churches.
Another means God uses to correct His children for spiritual growth is personal time in the Word. Call it our “quiet times”, “having devotions” or whatever, it is an essential discipline, even a daily one, for Christians to be in God’s Word for encouragement, instruction, comfort, and yes, needed correction. Like faithfulness to the public preaching of the Word, don’t neglect private time with the Lord. This is how He speaks to us. Make sure we are positioning ourselves to hear Him by having time alone with an open Bible and open heart.
A third means of correcting His children is by using His children in the lives of each other. We see this in today’s scripture but be careful. Note the type of person the Psalmist states is giving him correction – a righteous man. This doesn’t mean “men only”. What it does mean is a person walking close to the Lord and close to the individual he or she is giving correction. I find it much easier and profitable to receive rebuke, instruction, and correction from a fellow Christian who has invested in me, proved love for me, and has my best interests motivating the correction. If we are not in relationship with other Christians, real spiritual fellowship, don’t be a Pharisee and come with correction. It will ring hollow and prove to be more damaging than helpful.
Correction. It is the way of the Christian life. May God help us to respond to His loving correction from the pulpit, in our private times, and from other believers who God will use to grow us more and more into the image of His Son.
PRAYER: Father, help me respond to correction with grace and openness, not rebellion and defensiveness.
QUOTE: “Correction to another Christian must be motivated by love and flow from relationship already built.”