WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE REBUKES, REPROVES AND CORRECTS

EVERY WORD OF GOD FOR DAILY LIVING BY: 
PASTOR PAUL RIKA:
INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR 
Holiness Revival Movement Worldwide

DATE: TUESDAY, JANUARY 19

TEXT: Hebrews 12:5-13
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.


KEY VERSE: 2 Timothy 3:17
"That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

Today’s devotional text is telling us that God has spoken over and over again that as His children, He will speak to us, He will reprove us, He will rebuke us and will correct us. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, the Bible says “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”  From the books of Genesis to Malachi, you will see the reproofs of God; the corrections of God: privately, publicly, directly or indirectly. They come by prophesy, by revelations or whichever way God chose. Even in personal appearance, the Lord has been correcting, reproving and rebuking people. So it is not a strange thing even as we are experiencing in our own time. They are for you to ‘lift up the hands that hang down;’ they are for you to make sure your ‘lame feet don’t turn the other side,’ rather they should be healed. They are for you so that your situation is not worsened by anger or by more rebellion; rather that you may be healed. That is the purpose of scripture and that is what God has been doing till this day, even now that you are reading His word.

Hebrews 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him. Don’t despise what you have heard. The chastening of the Lord, the correction of the Lord, the rebuke of the Lord, don’t despise it. “And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision (1 Samuel 3:1).” In the days of Samuel, the word of God was rare because of the backslidden state of Israel.  So is this word of God that comes to rebuke and correct very scarce in many churches today. They cannot find it because they are not in the direction where God can speak to them. Since their denomination started till this time, they have never heard the word of the Lord; the prophetic word in the real sense. It is all sham and deceit, but this precious word has come to you. Value it and use it for your spiritual wellness.

Thought for the day: Every word of God in rebuke, correction and reproof is for your spiritual health.

Song for the day: Open my eyes oh Lord…..I am ready to obey

Bible reading for the day: Genesis 44-45; Matthew 14:1-21