Tag: correction
Prophetic intervention
Scripture reading for April 8: 1st Kings 20-22
God places us in a family so that we might learn from parents who are older and wiser. God may also place a mate in our life. A mate may be a great blessing or lead us astray. God also sends people to us who will speak the Word of God into our lives. The Old Testament called them prophets. They were sent to give warning, direction, and advice for living God’s way. Heeding their word would result in a victorious life; rejecting their word brought trouble and defeat. Ahab had a pagan wife, Jezebel, who led him astray. Ahab’s attitude made prophetic intervention necessary since he was not following God fully.
1 Kings 20:28 “And a man of God came near and said to the king of Israel, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The Lord is a god of the hills but He is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.””
In the course of time, God sent another prophet to Ahab with instructions on how to defeat his enemy Ben-Hadad, king of Aram. (1st Kings 20:13) God worked a miracle and the enemy was defeated but Ben-Hadad escaped. God sent another prophet to speak to Ahab a word of action. (1st Kings 20:28) Ahab spared Ben-Hadad’s life and made a treaty with him. God sent another prophet to pronounce judgment.
(1 Kings 20:42-43) “And he said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life shall be for his life, and your people for his people.'” And the king of Israel went to his house vexed and sullen and came to Samaria.”
Ahab responded with anger and sulking! Out of this attitude, Ahab coveted a neighbor’s vineyard to built a garden for himself. The neighbor, Naboth, refused to sell or trade the family property. Jezebel, his wife, promptly set in motion a plan to get the vineyard through lies and manipulation. Naboth was killed and the vineyard is secured for Ahab. Elijah the prophet pronounced their deaths.
Why do you think God sent all this prophetic intervention and correction? Why was God so gracious and long-suffering with this king and his wife? Has God ever given you prophetic instruction or warnings?
Loving pastoral rebukes
Scripture reading for September 25th: Titus 1, Psalm 41, Proverbs 5
Titus 1: 12-16 “One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.”
Teaching, instruction in righteousness and rebuke or correction are all part of pastoral ministry. Paul, writing to Titus, instructed him about his calling to minister to those in Crete, where he was pastor. The Cretans were Gentiles who were not instructed in God’s law. On hearing the Gospel, many came to faith in Christ and needed instruction and correction. But Jewish false teachers tried to lure them away from following Christ. Titus was called to rebuke these who were straying away and defend his congregation from these false teachers. Profession and possession of true faith will produce godly character and works. A defiled mind and conscience will render us and others as unfit for any good work.
Psalm 41:1-3 “Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him; the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; You do not give him up to the will of his enemies. The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness You restore him to full health.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for clear instruction regarding pastoral ministry. It is difficult to rebuke another person, warning them of consequences of their sinful actions or attitudes. Help me to always seek You for what to do and say. May I love discipline and reproof and listen to those you send to teach me. I trust You to protect me and sustain me. May my works bring glory to Jesus Christ.
Proverbs 5: 12-15 “. . and you say, “How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof! I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors. I am at the brink of utter ruin in the assembled congregation.”
Blessed godly grief!
Scripture reading for September 24th: Habakkuk; 2nd Corinthians 7
Key Scriptures: 2nd Corinthians 7:8-11 “For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it–though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.”
Paul had written plainly to the Corinthians this second time to appeal to them to forgive a brother who had been disciplined for sexual sins. He had some regrets at first, that he might offend them, but he ended up rejoicing when their godly grief over this brother’s sin caused him and them to repent and do the right thing. Worldly grief leads only to death–sorrow for sin alone won’t bring forgiveness and life. Godly sorrow leads to repentance and true transformation.
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to receive correction with grace and humility and true repentance. May I not shrink from godly correction of one who may need to experience mercy by repentance.
Habakkuk 3:12-13 “You marched through the earth in fury; You threshed the nations in anger. You went out for the salvation of Your people, for the salvation of Your anointed.”
If I love you more, will you love me less?
Scripture reading for September 12th: 2nd Corinthians 12:11-21
Paul continued his defense of his own ministry, blaming the Corinthians for driving him to this. “I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. The things that mark an apostle–signs, wonders and miracles–were done among you with great perseverance.” (2nd Corinthians 12:11-12) Paul did not consider himself to be anything. But he did do the things that mark apostles of Jesus Christ in their midst. God had used him to preach the Gospel and they were saved as a result of his ministry. He had done other signs during his ministry there. This should have brought commendation.
“Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?” Paul wasn’t after their money or possessions, as some of the “false apostles” had been. He considered himself like their parents. He wanted to be with them and bless them, gladly spending himself for their welfare. He loved them as Christ loved them, willing even to lay down his life for them.
Paul went on to explain that all he had written was for their strengthening and that he had written what was needed in the sight of God. ” For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outburst of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.” (2nd Corinthians 12:20-21) His love for them warned them of his coming so that they may repent and be found free from these sins! Examine your own life today for these sins! Jesus, not Paul, is coming soon!