The Protection of Correction

"Correct me, LORD,
but only with justice--
not in Your anger,
lest you reduce me to nothing."
(Jeremiah 10:24)
Blessings to you, precious friends, on this eighth day of our 40-day journey! I continue to pray for the Lord's strength to uphold you in the way He has led you to fast.

Today, I sit before a blank screen, praying to discern what the Lord would have me communicate. I know better than to begin with my own "good" idea, so I wait. And pray. And wait. And listen. And wait. And He gives me the word "correction". And I think that is part of His gift during this 40-day fast.

Often, despite our best intentions, life just sucks us dry. Hours bleed into days. Days bleed into weeks, and we continue doggedly on our way, existing and surviving in a world that is not our home (reference Hebrews 11:13 and 1 Peter 2:11). We are so determined to serve the Lord that even our ministry work can supersede our relationship with Him. The backsliding usually happens gradually, like the frog in the kettle syndrome, yet perceiving no imminent danger in our circumstances is more dangerous than recognizing immediate peril.

The time to examine ourselves is when we feel comfortable, for although the Lord blesses His children with His love, joy, and peace, I don't think we're supposed to feel comfortable while we're living in this fallen world. Let us not confuse His patience with His acceptance!

"... do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?" (Romans 2:4)

God is jealous; He is intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness. There can be no idol before Him, not even our work on His behalf. He doesn't need us to carry out His work. He allows us the blessing of participating in His work, but our work for Him can not come before our devotion to Him.

In our continuing process of sanctification, we must seek and heed His loving correction, before the situation becomes critical and before He resorts to stronger methods to get our attention.

Today, my daughter is getting braces. She actually has beautiful, strong, straight teeth, but she is missing one permanent tooth. It's just not there! As a result, the rest of her teeth are drifting, become unaligned and uncentered. Does her smile look bad right now? No, not really, but, if the condition continues uncorrected, her entire bite may be affected, and more serious work may be required. So, her orthodontic treatment will return her teeth to the proper position, while making the proper space for the missing tooth (which will be added as a bridge, and later, as a permanent implant, if she chooses).

This morning, my husband (who has beautiful straight teeth himself, untouched by orthodontics!) noted that Katy's teeth looked "fine" and asked, "Is it critical that Katy get braces now?"

I replied, "No, it's not critical right now, but it may become critical if it's not corrected early."

We, too, must take advantage of this opportunity to submit ourselves to His loving correction now, before it becomes critical. Our lives may look "fine" now, but let us closely examine everything and correct anything that may cause us to drift. The third chapter of 2 Timothy warns us that there will be godlessness in the last days and instructs us to avoid it at all costs. "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

We must remain devoted to the Lord and immersed in His Word. Let us focus on the "Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through the faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 4:15-16).

Let us not be an individual who spurns the Lord's correction, for "He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored." (Proverbs 13:18; see also 6:23, 10:17, 12:1, 15:10, 15:32), but "Blessed is the man whom God corrects ..." (Job 5:17).

Let us neither be a nation who spurns the Lord's correction: "Therefore say to them, 'This is the nation that has not obeyed the LORD its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips.' " (Jeremiah 7:28; see also 2:30, 5:3), but let us be a nation who has no idol before Him: "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD..." (Psalm 33:12).

Precious Father, thank You for Your correction and discipline, born from Your righteousness. Continue to convict us, Lord, of the idols that we place before You. Implant us before You, precious Lord, and cause us to "pay more careful attention ... to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away." (Hebrews 2:1). I pray in Jesus' Holy Name. Amen.

"Take heed,
you senseless ones
among the people;
you fools,
when will you
become wise?
Does He Who
implanted the ear
not hear?
Does He Who
formed the eye
not see?
Does He Who
disciplines nations
not punish?
Does He Who
teaches man
lack knowledge?
The LORD knows
the thoughts of man;
He knows
that they are futile.
Blessed is the man
You discipline, O LORD,
the man You teach
from Your law."
(Psalm 94:8-12)
How can we encourage and pray for you today? Please let us know by clicking on "Sparks Share" at the end of today's reflection, and scroll down to the "Comments" box. You may choose to comment anonymously, if you prefer. Feel free to leave your praises and insights as well!

Copyright 2008. Kathryn B. Wells. All Rights Reserved.