Believers Must Positively Receive God’s Correction
(Passage: Hosea 13)
God rebuked the Israelites for attempting to play a double-standard game with him. Israelites were dishonest in their relationship with God. They only served him for their selfish interest. They returned to idol worship after God has blessed them. Meanwhile, God requires his children to faithfully serve him with an undivided attention. People ought to serve God for who he is, and not for the sake of what they intend to receive from him.
Israelites engaged in a face-worship to receive God’s benefits; they turn their back at him after his has blessed them. Therefore, God promised to punish the people for their hypocritical behaviors. God stated,
“When Ephraim spoke, trembling, He exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended through Baal worship, he died. Now they sin more and more, and have made for themselves molded images, Idols of their silver, according to their skill; all of it is the work of craftsmen. They say of them, “Let the men who sacrifice kiss the calves!” Therefore they shall be like the morning cloud and like the early dew that passes away, like chaff blown off from a threshing floor and like smoke from a chimney. “Yet I am the Lord your God Ever since the land of Egypt, and you shall know no God but Me; for there is no savior besides Me. I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. When they had pasture, they were filled; They were filled and their heart was exalted; Therefore they forgot Me. “So I will be to them like a lion; Like a leopard by the road I will lurk; I will meet them like a bear deprived of her cubs; I will tear open their rib cage, And there I will devour them like a lion. The wild beast shall tear them” (Hosea 13:1-8).
No Game Playing With God!
A good Christian ought to respond to a godly correction.
A Christian who expects God to go a long way for him must also go a long way for God. Christians must understand that we have an obligation to live in honesty before God. No Christian is allowed to play pranks with God. It will backfire!
Yield to correction: Believers must understand that we cannot deceive God. He knows a person that is honest in his or her relationship with him. Christians must understand that God will reward us if are honest with him.
Christians must not attempt to test God by serving him with the goal of receiving his benefits only. We must faithfully serve God because he deserves it. We must also obey the commandments of God so that he can count us worthy of his kingdom.
Every Christian must faithfully serve God with a sincere heart at all times.
Respond to correction. It is important to emphasize that a Christian should not be an ingrate by keeping a casual relationship God. Jehovah asks his children to shun sin and pursue righteousness. He asks us to walk uprightly before him so that we can enjoy his earthly and heavenly benefits.
Correction leads to blessings.
Let the weak say, “I am strong.” Whoever struggles in his relationship with God should be honest with his or her status and ask God for help. God will grant the request of his children who acknowledge their weaknesses and prayerfully work towards improvement.
Prayer to Yield to Correction an be Consistent With God
Dear God, I stand to be corrected! Please give me the grace to keep an honest relationship with you. Help me to serve you in righteousness so that you can be happy with me. Empower me by the Holy Spirit to respond to your corrections and change. Please, give me the ability to have an unconditional love for you and faithfully serve you in every day of my life. Let my life glorify you on earth so that you can be proud of me in heaven. Please ever keep me worthy of your eternal kingdom O Lord. For in the name of Jesus Christ I make my requests. Amen.
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