“She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.” Zephaniah 3:2 In the book of Zephaniah, God presents a choice – be holy or be judged. God’s mercy always allowed for a righteous remnant to survive, and…
“Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.” Job 5:17-18 Eliphaz was convinced that God was punishing Job for something that he had done wrong, or some…
“And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.” Matthew 18:17
We all need to be corrected sometimes; and rather than resenting the process, we need to value it. How else can we learn?
The verse above is from a passage that describes the scriptural method of correction. Go alone to the person who has offended you. If they won’t listen, take one or two others with you and try again. If that doesn’t work, take it to the Church.
The whole purpose of this procedure is restoration: “thou hast gained thy brother”. If both parties seek to have a right spirit, then correction will be given and received properly, and a relationship will be saved.
Prayer: Lord, show me if there is any relationship that I need to mend. Maybe I need to lovingly confront someone, or maybe I am the one who wronged someone else. Let me value correction and preserve my friendships.
Devotion by Liane Grant