Responding to correction

DAILY BIBLE READING:

2 Kings 4:18–5:27 

Acts 15:1-35 

Psalm 141:1-10 

Proverbs 17:23

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Psalm 141:5 (CSV) "Let the righteous one strike me - it is an act of faithful love; let him rebuke me - it is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. Even now my prayer is against the evil acts of the wicked."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Our Verse for Today can only be understood and appreciated by someone who genuinely wants to pursue holiness. All others will simply pass over it and not give it a second thought.

This verse is powerful. The Psalmist is saying that even though it would be painful to his pride, he recognizes that being rebuked is actually an act of love. He wants those painful words!

Why? 

Because the Psalmist realized that if someone truly loved him and desired for him to live in such a way that his actions would be pleasing to the Lord, then he needed them to point out his sins. Sometimes, his sinful heart may not acknowledge the sin. Other times, he may not even be aware of the sin. So, he needed those who loved him to point them out.

And rather than resisting this potentially painful experience, he longed for it. He wanted to live in such a way that his actions pleased the Lord and he needed others to help him grow in holiness.

So, friend, how do you respond to correction? Do you resist it? Do you get angry? Do you sever relationships when someone is painfully honest with you?

Or do you desire for others to point out your weak spots so you can address that area of your life?

Friend, we need each other. If we truly love each other and desire holiness, we need to love each other enough to point out areas of concern in each other so we can grow in holiness.

Application:

- Ask God to grow your desire for holiness.

- Give others permission to point out sin in your life.

- When you are corrected, listen and then pray about what God is saying.

- If necessary, point out areas of sin in those around you but make sure that you are doing so because you love that person.

Are you stupid?

DAILY BIBLE READING:

Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20
Luke 7:36-8:3
Psalm 69:1-18
Proverbs 12:1

BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:

Proverbs 12:1 (CSB) "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but one who hates correction is stupid."

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):

While we will agree with the truth of this Proverb, we realize all too well that getting disciplined or corrected isn't pleasant. We don't like it when someone else sees one of our weaknesses and points it out.

That's our sinful heart, pure and simple. It's pride.

As difficult as it is to receive discipline and correction, the only way we can learn and grow to be what we need to be is to have folks who are unafraid to tell us the honest truth. They tell us what they see and they love us enough to confront us. At least then we will know what areas to work on.

We need people that will be honest with us. And we need humble hearts to receive the correction.

Are you open to discipline and correction? If so, good for you! If not, according to the Bible, you're stupid.

So, which one is it?

A war in our minds...

In my Bible reading this morning, I reflected on 2 Corinthians 10. When I came to verses 3-6 it was almost as if I could see the battlefield, hear the artillery fire, smell the pungent odor of smoke, and hear officers barking commands to their troops. The scene is vivid ...

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (New Living Translation)

"We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ."

The imagery that God through the Apostle Paul paints in our minds is powerful!

But, as we reflect on this scene, we realize that God's Word is not talking about a literal battle. It's not talking about actual soldiers.

This text points out that all of us are in a battle ... every day. And the battlefront isn't some landscape in a far-off land. It's in our minds. It's in our heart. It's in the realm of ideas and convictions.

Who (or what) is the enemy? Simply, any idea or worldview that doesn't conform to the teachings of Scripture.

There could not be a clearer text that points to the seriousness with which we need to engage in Bible study and the development of a biblical worldview.

With a growing knowledge of God's Word that takes deep root in our minds and transforms our thinking (Romans 12:2), we must see to it that any thought in our minds that doesn't conform to Scripture should be attacked. We should defeat it and put some Scripture there (through memorization and meditation) to take it's place.

Also, we are called to be salt and light (these influence their surroundings - Matthew 5:13-16) so we must also realize that the Apostle Paul, in this text, was really talking about someone else's worldview. The Corinthians had some things wrong. Paul sought to correct it. As a Christian, a person of influence, Paul recognized that he needed to teach and correct the Christians in Corinth so that their thinking/worldview could be rescued from the enemy.

So, today, spend time in God's Word.
Realize that you study God's Word to transform the way you think (Romans 12:2).
Be willing to tactfully, compassionately speak God's Word into situations today that need to be conformed to His Word.

How correction reveals whether we are wise or fools

Do you like it when someone corrects you? No? Neither do I.

It's painful. It's humbling (sometimes humiliating).

My pride is typically responsible for my negative response. I want to think that I measure up to other folks' standards. I don't want to think that there is any reason at all for others to look down on me. I have my sinful self-pride, after all.

But, let's admit it. None of us is perfect. All of us struggle with sin, bad habits, and simple oversights.

Let's also admit that we all have blind spots. There are plenty of things in our life that are messed up ... and we don't even know it. If others don't tell us, we'll continue to look foolish or may rob God of an opportunity to glorify Him.

So, like it or not, we need others to periodically correct us.

One more thing: the Bible tells us who is worthy of correction. No, it's not based on who needs it. It's based upon who will receive it.

The Bible tells us that some people shouldn't get corrected because they are beyond help and won't listen no matter how compassionate and humble the correction. They'll get angry. They'll cut off relationships and never speak again to the one who corrected them. They may even seek retaliation.

Proverbs 9:7-8 (New Living Translation)

"Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return. Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt. So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you."

God doesn't tip-toe around the truth here. It's as clear as crystal. We are either wise or wicked mockers based upon how we receive correction.

So, which one is it? And what adjustments might we need to make based upon God's correction?