By Leon Maiolo (edited and updated by Mark Cole)
How does God correct His children? Does God correct us by punishing us with physical, emotional or financial trials and adversities? Are sickness and disease, trials and tribulations God’s way of helping and correcting us, if and when we go astray?
The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him. For He knows how weak we are; He remembers we are only dust.
Psalms 103:13-14 NLT
God is our Father, He loves us more perfectly and completely then we love our own children. The Psalmist says He is compassionate towards His children. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows we are not perfect like He is. He remembers that we are but dust.
Jesus – “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NLT
Jesus told His disciples in the world there would be trials and grief. We are not isolated from every problem in the world, but they are not punishments. God is love and light, and wants us to live and walk in His light.
Anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
I John 4:8 NLT
If any of us have been blessed to be parents, we know we always want the best for our children. God always wants the best for us.
Jesus- If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him.
Matthew 7:11 NLT
What about correction then? We may need to be corrected at times, to help us grow and mature from children into the kings and priests our Father intends us to be.
If God doesn’t discipline you as He does all of His children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really His children at all.
Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?
For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in His holiness.
Hebrews 12:8-10 NLT
The author of the book of Hebrews states that God disciplines us for our good, to be partakers of His holiness. How does He go about correcting us?
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.
II Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
God does not beat His children, with pain, or sickness, or punishment of any type. Our Father gently corrects us, by sitting down and explaining our errors through His Holy Word. Picture a father who kneels down, takes his son or daughter by the hand, and gently corrects by explaining. You might be thinking, what if the person does not listen! What if this gentle approach is not severe enough to get our attention. If this describes us, the Bible says we are being foolish.
A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool.
Proverbs 17:10 NLT
If God were to beat a hard-headed person with a hundred stripes, that person will curse God and become all the more stubborn. This in not our Fathers way.
Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that His kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
Romans 2:4 NLT
It’s God’s goodness, not His sternness, that leads us to want to repent and improve and become more like He is.
You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your help and gentleness make me great.
2 Samuel 22:36 AMP
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
Hebrews 4:12 NLT
God will correct us, encourage us, instruct us, lift us up, and teach us about Himself and about who we are in Christ. He will do this all through His Word. We need to spend time in God’s Word to see how good God is and how much He loves us.
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:105 NLT
The original post is here: How Does God Correct Us?
