by Panom Top
All of us know that there are certain things in life that we should be doing, but we often find ourselves reluctant attending to them. We know regular exercise and eating healthy food is good for our physical health. We know prayer, Bible study, meditation, and fasting are good for our spiritual health and our relationship with our Creator. One of the things we need in life is Godly correction. By simply just reading the word “correction,” it can raise a lot of negative emotions and feelings including a sense of hostility, hatred, anger, and even sadness. This is a natural human response considering that Satan has influenced our mind to be hostile to correction. Mr. Herbert Armstrong once said, “perhaps the hardest thing for any person to do is to admit that they are wrong.” Correction is like holding a mirror up to a person’s face allowing them to see their mistakes. Correction provides us with valuable insight and reflection of ourselves – to see what we are doing wrong, so we can stop doing it and change course.
The Bible is an important book for correction. The Apostle James compares God’s law to a mirror, because it shows us what we are doing wrong and directs us to the right path of freedom and blessings (James 1:22-25). When a person truly understands the need and benefits of correction, he/she will seek it regularly. The Psalmist understood the benefits of correction when he pleaded to God with these words: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties. And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24).
As a father of three boys, I understand that it is my responsibility to correct my children even though it is often unpleasant for them, and for me. The difficult part is accepting that I also need correction from my heavenly Father. Correction is tough love being exercised. You may wonder: “Why do mum and dad seem angry with me when I do something wrong?” Surprisingly, their anger is actually not a sign of hate, but love. Sometimes, the amount of anger or sadness shown by a person when you do wrong is the evidence of their genuine love for you. We don’t normally correct strangers. It is those we love that we correct because we do not want them to get hurt. We may temporarily hurt their feelings when correcting them. When correction is done in love, it is to prevent a greater harm.
The Psalmist states the following about correction: “Let the righteous strike me; it shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; it shall be as excellent oil; let my head not refuse it” (Psalm 141:5). Who would have thought that correction is an act of kindness and something to be considered “excellent”? Yes, I understand that it does not feel that way when we are on the receiving end. But when it is done God’s way, it yields the fruits of righteousness.
We are being trained to become leaders and teachers in the coming Kingdom of God. Part of that calling is learning to yield to God now and accepting correction in our lives. Like many other things that we need in life, Godly correction is something we need regularly. It benefits us both in this life and for all eternity.