Many years ago, while working at a Christian bookstore two young men whom I knew well visited my store. They were quietly talking amongst themselves when one of them raised his voice – loud enough so that a lady who was standing next to them heard him loud and clear – and said ‘you bastard’. The lady looked at this young man as if he had spit in her face. He on the other hand looked around as if to say ‘Did I say something wrong?’
The word ‘bastard’ is a bit harsh, but what if your actions (and not the actions of two people out-of-wedlock) would cause you to be labeled such?
‘If you are without discipline, in which all have shared, you are not sons but bastards.’No one likes to be corrected, disciplined or reprimanded. But the reality is we have all experienced it … some more than others. And yes, the ‘God of love’ corrects. He corrects because He loves. He corrects in love. Because of this, He fully expects His children to endure/go through the moments of and process of correction.
Here are some interesting Biblical Proverbs concerning correction:
-If you refuse correction, you will go astray.
-If you hate correction, you are stupid.
*I’ve never seen anyone beg for discipline, but the truth is that most people’s perception regarding ‘correction’ has been tarnished.
- Correction keeps you ‘within bounds’. Letting loose and living a life ‘out of bounds’ brings shame.
- Correction trains and instructs.
For many, their initial reaction is to try to run or avoid correction all together. That doesn’t work.
As a kid, did you ever try to run from discipline, a spanking or a beat-down? – Depending on your upbringing, you might have experienced one or all of these.What were you thinking? It was only going to be worse later! It’s as if they would just be there … waiting … lurking … like a lioness does her prey. Scripture teaches us that His children do not flee when He corrects.
In closing – How does one know when it’s ‘Divine Correction’?
If it’s found in Scripture, conducive to a godly life and will help you attain His purpose for you … then consider it Divine.
*Both of those ‘young men’ mentioned earlier in this blog are now serving the Lord as Pastors and neither are bastards.
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THE CORE: Hebrews 12:8
I liked this blog, I think it’s true that many people don’t like to be corrected or disciplined, but it’s true that it does keep us in bounds, and sometimes we don’t realize what we’re doing or have been doing so it’s good for someone to reprimand you once in a while. I do however believe that the way you tell a person has a lot to do with how they react to it. In my opinion if you tell a person in a good manner and with love the person can accept that discipline.