Title
The Father’s Time Out
Scripture
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
(Revelation 3:19)
Devotional
God corrects and disciplines His children. “For whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.”(1) We are likewise instructed not to despise God’s discipline and correction, but we are to embrace it as obedient sons and daughters. For we know that it will produce, “the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”(2) I think a key to accepting the loving rebuke and chastening of the Lord is found in our recognizing them when they come. It has been a while since He has audibly spoken from heaven or has written on a wall with His finger. Therefore, how do we recognize it when it comes? It first of all comes via the conscience, the Word, and the prophet. If we fail to heed these, He will allow certain circumstances into our lives. And because He loves us, He will not relent of His rebuke and chastening until we are zealous for Him and repent.
(1) Proverbs 3:12, (2) Hebrews 12:5-11