Good Morning and welcome in everybody. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture but before we do that, I wanted to ask you a little question.
If you saw that your child was doing something dangerous in your backyard, what would you do? If you knew in your heart that they could get hurt, how would you react to the situation? Would you open up your kitchen window and yell at them to get inside the house, and then scold them for their behavior? As a loving parent, there is a reaction that we take when we love our child. We want to protect them and keep them safe, which at times requires a strong rebuke and correction.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Although many times correction will not be perceived as love, it takes more love to rebuke somebody, than to say nothing at all.
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:19
God has given us His Holy Word, to guide us on the path of righteousness, but if people wander off in the wrong direction, God corrects and disciplines us accordingly, so that we can walk worthy of His high calling.
1 Thessalonians 2 ¹¹ As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, ¹² That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
2 Timothy 3 ¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
The disciples were commanded to rebuke with authority.
“These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” Titus 2:15
2 Timothy 4 ¹ I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; ² Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
When a child is misbehaving in a grocery store, a loving dad will rebuke their inappropriate behavior. At times it might require a sharp rebuke, but it is done for the purpose of redirecting them, and putting them on the right path. Some people only need a gentle admonishment to correct their actions, while others need much more.
“This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;” Titus 1:13
“Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.” 1 Timothy 5:20
To truly be a child of God you must be capable of receiving the discipline of God.
Proverbs 3. ¹¹ My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: ¹² For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
“Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.” Proverbs 15:10
Just as an earthly dad corrects us, God does the same.
“Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.”Deuteronomy 8:5
When we obey perfectly, we don’t need to fear correction. We don’t have to be afraid, as long as we are doing what is good. This is because we do those things that please Him, and are walking according to His will.
Romans 13 ³ For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
Many children have grown up without the discipline of a dad, but when we become a Christian, we become a child of the heavenly Father, who will rebuke and correct us so that we can be partakers of His holiness.
Hebrews 12 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.
To chasten means to correct by punishment or to inflict suffering for the purpose of moral improvement. It is also defined as making someone understand that they have done something wrong, and make them want to improve through the use of steep punishment.
John 2 ¹⁴ And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: ¹⁵ And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;
¹⁶ And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.
Whatever chastening one might endure, it is a blessing from God to be disciplined and corrected by Him.
“Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.” Acts 3:26
“Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;” Psalms 94:12
“Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:” Job 5:17
Love for others will boldly tell others the truth, rebuking and correcting them as needed. This is what the disciples were doing in the church. If they repented, you could save their soul from eternal punishment.
James 5 ¹⁹ Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
²⁰ Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
A loving dad wants you to grow up into a perfect man, and so does God.
“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” Ephesians 4:15
“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:18
Lastly, the Apostle Paul wasn’t a people pleaser. He loved the church enough to tell them the truth.
1 Thessalonians 2 ⁴ But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. ⁵ For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
Do you love somebody enough to tell them what they need to hear rather than what they want to hear? There is never perfection without correction, and those who rebuke you care about you. As the devil continues to disseminate hatred and lies, don’t forget,….
….. Love Speaks the Truth
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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