In Revelation 3, Jesus spoke:
19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.”
Are we worthy to reign with Christ in this hour or do we need some further refining? Are we being fully led by HIS SPIRIT or by our own subtle agenda? FATHER knows our hearts and can see through the outward perceptions and illusions. HE knows our heart.
Out of the intent of Love He corrects us. If HE didn’t Love us we would be left to our own devices that promote death and destruction but instead HE intervenes and moves us toward the abundance of life. When HE rebukes us HE exposes our fault or error in order to correct it. If FATHER didn’t expose the issue, how are we to realize what we have done wrong? The ego does not like to have any weakness revealed because it does not want to admit vulnerability rather it wants to personify strength at all times. Acknowledging error is the first step to recovery.
In Hebrews chapter 12, the need for correction is also explained:
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
A father’s responsibility is to correct his son out of Love. Chastening is the whole training and education of children which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose commands and admonitions, reproof and punishment; It also includes the training and care of the body. Would you want to live your life with some core belief in error which kept you from achieving the fullness of your purpose? If you are constantly living without peace, you probably need some form of correction. Your willingness to be corrected will bring forth peace in your life for you are no longer fighting against the flow of the Holy Spirit. Does this mean you will have no issues? Not necessarily, but you will be at peace as you are being confronted with challenges and difficulties.
There is a balance to FATHER’S chastening just as there should be a balance in correcting our children. FATHER encourages us by blessing us even while we are in need of further correction. HE knows we need assurance as we mature. When I was a young man, I had much to learn from HIM yet HIS Hand was upon me as I grew professionally. Even though the list of issues were long with my spiritual walk, it did not prevent HIM from blessing what I set my hands to do. HE would direct my path while at the same time my heart was in desperate need of purification. HIS grace and mercy prevailed in my youth.
As you grow more mature, HE expects more from you. You must accept accountability and responsibility for your actions and if you don’t you will suffer some form of judgment. I have experienced such judgment and it wasn’t pretty. Rather than defend an indefensible position, we must be zealous to change. Once I perceived I was under judgment, I quickly and fervently sought forgiveness and I repented of my actions. I had to be willing to expose the error and correct my thinking. One of the biggest hurdles for people to overcome is being willing to admit they are wrong. If something is repeatedly not working in your life due to your conviction, challenge your own position. Ask FATHER to reveal the Truth of the matter rather than clinging to an illusion. Get back to basics and start from the beginning in order to find where you went wrong in your assumptions.
In order to become fully mature Sons, we must be willing to change and accept correction in whatever form it takes or from whatever source brings it forth, even if it is a jackass (Numbers 22:28). We all have need for correction and as we mature in our revelation of Love we will embrace any and all correction FATHER brings forth.