When God Corrects

Every good parent knows that teaching children obedience requires reward and punishment. Good behavior must be reinforced with praise; an exemption from some household chore, or a movie before bedtime. That same child must realize that disobedience brings consequence.  When big tears are spilling down the face of your beloved little princess, her heart apparently broken by stern words of correction and a time-out in her room, even the most committed Mom is tempted to let it go.  Do that too many times and that amazing little person will soon understand, “She’s not really serious. I can do whatever I want and she will not bring correction because she cannot stand my tears or anger.”

My Mom’s famous dictum still echoes inside my head – “If you won’t obey me, you will never obey God.” And, she meant to make me mind her words! She was not afraid of my protests nor was she intimidated by my anger.  She corrected lovingly and firmly.

God, our Father, desires our obedience – for our own good!  He is willing to correct us, even at the expense of our comfort. "My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights." (Proverbs 3:11-12, NLT)  There are many Christians today who will not accept the correction of their Father.  Grace and mercy are taught with such fervor that there is little room in our understanding that God is a loving Father but unafraid of causing us pain if we rebel against Him.  Is He petty? Not at all.  Is He mean? Never.  But, His love includes judgment. He will not ignore our sin and allow us to plunge into ruin without standing in our way with correction.

Zephaniah (When was the last time you read that short book in the Bible?) thundered at the rebellious people of God about their sins. They mixed worship of false gods with their Temple rituals. The priests were part of the conspiracy. Nobody thought Yahweh (the God of Judah) would act to correct them. They thought that their special status as ‘the people of the Lord’ would exempt them from His judgment. They thought their wealth would allow them to buy favor.  But, in terrible terms, He warned that He was going to let terrible consequences bring awful suffering to Jerusalem.  And, He did!

Good parents know that misbehavior must be corrected and they know that relationship must be maintained, that even a flicker of obedient response must be met with profuse expressions of love.  This is how our Father acts towards us.  He takes no joy in our pain because, yes, He is a God of grace and mercy.  After three chapters of angry condemnation, there are these wonderful words of promise and restoration.  "On that day you will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me, because I will remove from this city those who rejoice in their pride. Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill. But I will leave within you the meek and humble, who trust in the name of the LORD. The remnant of Israel will do no wrong; they will speak no lies, nor will deceit be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid.” Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem!" (Zephaniah 3:11-14, NIV)

The word from the Word calls us know the goodness of the Lord.  Read His promise and choose to love Him sincerely. 

"Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord.

Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous?

Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth.  The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed." (Psalm 34:8-18, NLT)

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When We Walk With The Lord (Trust And Obey)

When we walk with the Lord,

In the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way.

While we do His good will,

He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

But we never can prove

The delights of His love,

Until all on the altar we lay.

For the favor He shows,

And the joy He bestows,

Are for those who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet,

We will sit at His feet,

Or we'll walk by His side in the way.

What He says we will do,

Where He sends we will go,

Never fear, only trust and obey.

Trust and obey,

For there's no other way,

To be happy in Jesus,

But to trust and obey!

Daniel Brink Towner | John Henry Sammis

© Words: Public Domain