“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” Revelation 3:19
No one really likes to be rebuked or disciplined. When a person is doing something and another person comes up and rebukes him for doing it, he usually rises up in defense. He does not like to be told he is wrong.
Every person likes to think that he is doing everything correctly. Very few people liked to be criticized on what they are doing.
Think of it this way: No parent will allow his three-year old child to run out into a busy street. If that child starts to go into the street the good parent will rebuke the child and maybe even tell the child he can no longer play outside. This is for the child’s own good. If the parent did not love the child, he would allow the child to go into the street unattended.
Jesus tells you here that anyone He loves He will rebuke and discipline. If you are doing wrong He will rebuke you for doing it in order to get you to stop and do right. He will bring on discipline to train you to do the correct thing.
Jesus paid a high price for you. He died on the cross to save you. He will treat you with the utmost care. He will not just let you sit on a shelf and rot, He wants you to grow up beautiful. The rebuking and discipline is His love for you and willingness to care for you.
Most adults rise up in defense against God when He rebukes them. Here you are told to be earnest and repent. Do not rise up in anger against God.
Serve God from your heart in all that you say and do. Accept the rebukes from God as His way of making you better and more like Jesus. Turn from the sinful ways you were following to following God. Repent of the wrong ways of doing something.
It also may be that what you are doing is not directly a sinful action. It may be that God does not want you to do that action because later it will cause greater problems or it brings you onto a different path than God has for you. Be willing to be rebuked and disciplined today.
I pray that today God will show His love to you in disciplining you when you need it; that you will be open to His rebukes and disciplines; that you will turn from a path that God has not set for you; and that God will make you more and more like Jesus.
***If you have any needs you would like me to pray about please leave a comment on my Prayer Request page and I will be sure to pray for you. May God bless you!
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