"Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid"
Proverbs 12:1
When I was a youngster I would get in trouble if I called anyone stupid, it may have been an offense worthy of my mouth being washed out with soap. My mom considered it to be a harsh and demeaning word. We see in the above proverb that the Lord uses that harsh word to describe anyone who hates correction. The King James version uses the word "brutish", and the Hebrew word literally means, to be like cattle. I think the Lord feels very strongly about those who don't receive correction!
Frankly, most of us don't like to be corrected. Being corrected stings our egos, and humbles us. Correction should be reserved for those who are not as wise or spiritually mature as us.
The Lord used my first car as an object lesson, to help me understand my own need for continual correction and adjustments. The car was not a very trustworthy auto, and was out of alignment from the day I purchased it. When I drove it I had to always pay very close attention at all times, because it would keep veering to the left. If I did not pay attention and continue to straighten it out, that car would drift into all kinds of trouble. The Lord used my frustration with that old sports car, as a picture of my own walk. I was born out of alignment and in constant need of adjustments and corrections, to keep me from dangerous troubles. As much as my flesh resists it, I know I need the Lord's discipline to keep me in line with His ways and purposes.
We all need the Lord's correction. The foolish, prideful, stupid brute, will fight and resist His discipline. Wisdom would call us to look for and love His correction.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
Did You Do This For Me?
"...did you really fast for Me--for Me? Zechariah 7:4
The above verse is one of those verses that I can't just gloss over, its a stop and ponder verse. The Lord asks the Jewish priests a very penetrating question, that I need to continually ask myself. The priests were fulfilling the letter of the law, as far as offering the proper sacrifices, observing the feasts, and fasting. But the Lord was asking them, are you really doing these things from the heart, or are you doing these things because you are required to? The priests were very similar in Jerusalem during Jesus' time, for He spoke of them as drawing near to God with their lips, but being far away with their hearts. They were doing their jobs as the law required, but there was no heart in it.
Our walk with the Lord can easily slip into a walk of heartless habit, doing religious things, but lacking the life and love that God longs for from us. Why do we read the word, or go to church, or give, or serve in the ministry? If we do any of these out of forced obligation, or empty tradition, then that would seem to place our hearts far from Him. The motivation for all we do ought to be out of love for our God, and a desire to bring Him glory. We need to be guarded, because these hearts of ours can tend to do good things with selfish motives. By nature we might do things for the Lord, but sneak in a little bit of glory and recognition for self. I don't trust my heart, so I think it is a safe practice to invite the Lord to regularly ask that tough question that he posed to the priests of Zechariah's day.....are you really doing this for Me?
The above verse is one of those verses that I can't just gloss over, its a stop and ponder verse. The Lord asks the Jewish priests a very penetrating question, that I need to continually ask myself. The priests were fulfilling the letter of the law, as far as offering the proper sacrifices, observing the feasts, and fasting. But the Lord was asking them, are you really doing these things from the heart, or are you doing these things because you are required to? The priests were very similar in Jerusalem during Jesus' time, for He spoke of them as drawing near to God with their lips, but being far away with their hearts. They were doing their jobs as the law required, but there was no heart in it.
Our walk with the Lord can easily slip into a walk of heartless habit, doing religious things, but lacking the life and love that God longs for from us. Why do we read the word, or go to church, or give, or serve in the ministry? If we do any of these out of forced obligation, or empty tradition, then that would seem to place our hearts far from Him. The motivation for all we do ought to be out of love for our God, and a desire to bring Him glory. We need to be guarded, because these hearts of ours can tend to do good things with selfish motives. By nature we might do things for the Lord, but sneak in a little bit of glory and recognition for self. I don't trust my heart, so I think it is a safe practice to invite the Lord to regularly ask that tough question that he posed to the priests of Zechariah's day.....are you really doing this for Me?
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