Whom The Lord Loves, He Corrects

“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest his correction; for whom the Lord loves he corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights”
Proverbs 3:11-12 (NKJV)

How does God correct us?

Is God just waiting for us to make a mistake so that he can hurl a thunderbolt in our direction to satisfy his wrath?  The ancients held this to be the case.  God was often seen as implacable and bent on revenge.  Some think they see this in the Old Testament, but this is a mistaken view.  God is not seeking to inflict suffering upon us; rather he is seeking to bless us-and necessary correction is actually a blessing!  The word is ‘correction’ not ‘punishment’, and correction means to put right.

God’s desire is to encourage us to put right what is wrong, not to cause us pain.

So then how does God correct us?  In many and varied ways.  God works in our minds, touching our consciences.  Isn’t it true that when we come to see that we are wrong, one of two things happens?  Either we stand our ground and defend our own righteousness or we feel the anguish of our mistake and strive to put it right and never do it again.

This latter reaction is what God wants to see.  He delights in a spirit that is humble and teachable.  This brings with it a kind of pain.  But it is only temporary, healed by our determination to repent and press on, desiring to do better in the future.

But it does mean we have to let go of our pride, and this can be the most painful part.  “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).

Let’s not resist the correction of God.

Prayer
Our Father in heaven, help me to heed your correction, to desire to be more perfect, more like my Saviour Jesus Christ. Let me not turn away from your caring hand even when it seems, in the short term, so painful for me.
Amen

Study by David Stirk