Pay Attention to His Correction I

STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 
A Daily Devotional by Bishop David Bakare

Pay Attention to His Correction I

Saturday, 14 September

 

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 12:6-7

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Hebrews 12:1-11 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 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.

 

MORE LESSON: Hebrews 12:6-7 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

 

When God corrects us, it is a mark of His profound love for us. His correction is to show us our sins, so we can repent, turn, and become partakers of His holiness. His correction often shows us the errors of our ways so that we may change and walk in the light. Sometimes, His correction shows us what we have failed to do so we may turn, do them and become blessed indeed. Whatever it may be, God's correction is always for your good. You should, therefore, respond as a true child of God, in faith and heart-felt true obedience.

To choose to react negatively and rebel against the correction of God is to choose the way of judgement and perdition. That was what Cain (Genesis 4:6-7), King Saul (1 Samuel 15:22), and Judas Iscariot (Matthew 26:23-24) did. In each case, God corrected them but they did not take heed to His correction and they ended in disaster.

When God corrected David, he responded with a humble heart and in true repentance. God forgave him and established his kingdom (Psalm 51:1-19). When God corrected Peter, he submitted himself totally to God and he became the leader of Christ's apostolic band as recorded in John 21:15: So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

That God is correcting you does not mean you have come to the end of the road. It only means God wants you to make a positive adjustment in your life. Responding in humility, repentance and obedience is in your best interest. If you humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, He will exalt you in due season (I Peter 5:6). He will make your latter days to be more glorious than the beginning. Respond to God's correction today, and it shall be well with you. Submit yourselves there fore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you, as James 4:7 admonishes us.

 

Prayer/Action

* Give thanks to God for His eternal love for you.

* Ask God for the spirit of humility to respond appropriately to His correction.

* Ask the Lord to perfect everything that concerns you.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Oh God, my glory and the lifter up of my head, make this month a season of lifting for me and my household, in the beautiful name of Jesus.