Daily Devotion: Rebuke and Discipline

Scripture:
Revelation 3:14-23

Main Verse:
Revelation 3: 19
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.

Observation:
In his message to the church at Laodicea, Jesus revealed that He knows about their spiritual condition and their conceitedness. They were lukewarm Christians, not willing to obey the Lord wholeheartedly. Why does the Lord condemn the Laodicean church's behavior? They were believers, too. They probably attended church religiously and they probably gave their tithes and offerings regularly. But the Lord was not pleased because He knew that they were mediocre Christians. They were contented in their spiritual condition because they believed that they lacked nothing. They felt that they were "blessed" because they had material possessions and riches, but the truth is, they were lacking and miserable.

This is not the kind of life that the Lord wants of every Christian. When the Lord sees that we are starting to detach ourselves from Him, He rebukes and disciplines us. I have always believed that the Lord wants us to experience the blessings of a Christ-filled life, so when we are starting to withdraw from Him, He reprimands us. It is His way of letting us know that He does not want to lose us, that He wants us to be passionate about following Him.

Application:
Whether you want to admit it or not, we don't like being reprimanded. We are too proud to admit to ourselves that we are wrong. But we should gladly accept correction and rebuke, especially when it comes from the Lord. Let us rejoice when the Lord disciplines us because it is His way of showing that He loves us. He does not want us to be lukewarm followers. He wants us to be intense, diligent, and earnest followers. It is God's desire for us to grow into mature and strong Christians who are able to endure trials, temptations, and tribulations.

Prayer:
Father, thank you for letting me hear Your voice through your message. If there were times when I was obstinate and unwilling to follow Your ways, please forgive me and change my heart. I want to follow You, only You, Lord for the rest of my life. Empower me through Your Holy Spirit, so I may always have the zeal and passion as your follower. This I pray in the Mighty Name of Your Son, Jesus. AMEN.