Daily Devotion: Embrace Rebuke

Scripture:
2 Timothy 4: 1-8

Main Verse:
2 Timothy 4: 3
For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

Observation:
The apostle Paul was giving Timothy several instructions in his letter to him in 2 Timothy. Timothy was not only his partner in serving the Lord; he was also his trusted friend. He knew that because Timothy is a young teacher, he might encounter people who will not follow his teachings. He was encouraging him to  "preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction" (v.2). Paul had already experienced many difficulties during his ministry, so he wanted Timothy to understand that what he is about to experience when he preaches to others is nothing new. People would not listen to sound doctrine, to rebuke, and correction because they would want to listen only to teachings that, according to Paul, "what their itching ears want to hear."

Application:
The Lord's Word is used for correction, rebuke, and reproof (2 Timothy 3: 16). It is impossible for us not to be offended by the Word of God, because it is the only way that God may be able to stop us from living a life that leads to destruction. Why does the Lord do that? It all springs from the good Lord's love for us. He loves us so much that he would rather see us get hurt by His Word instead of suffer eternal damnation. The Book of Proverbs has warned us about avoiding correction or rebuke. If we disregard the Lord's rebuke, he will let disaster strike us and let calamity overtake us (Proverbs 1: 25-26). If we do not like to be corrected, we will die (Proverbs 15:10). If we remain "stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy (Proverbs 29: 1). We need to learn how to love discipline. Aren't we disciples of Christ? If we are, we should let the Lord work in our lives through His Word and embrace His rebuke. Remember, the Lord's correction may hurt you now, but it only means that He loves you and is protecting you and He does not want you to fall further into destruction.

Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Words that show how much you love me. Thank you for showing me who I really am in front of you and how I can live a life of holiness. Thank you for the Holy Spirit who convicts me. Lord, give me a heart that loves to hear discipline from you, a heart that openly receives correction and rebuke. Continue to hold my hand, Lord, so I may never fall into harm. This I pray in Jesus's name. AMEN.