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General Discussion
By Rick Warren — 10/09/2024
"God corrects all of his children, and if he doesn’t correct you, then you don’t really belong to him . . . God corrects us for our own good, because he wants us to be holy, as he is. It is never fun to be corrected. In fact, at the time it is always painful. But if we learn to obey by being corrected, we will do right and live at peace.”
Hebrews 12:8, 10-11 (CEV)
Correction is essential for growth. Did you benefit from correction growing up? Of course you did. It’s how we all learned to walk, talk, eat, bathe, read, write, and everything else. A parent that doesn’t correct their children doesn’t love them.
Sometimes God shakes things up in your life not just to refine you but to correct you. Just like a loving earthly parent, God wants you to understand when you are off the path and how to get back on it. His correction proves you are part of his family.
“God corrects all of his children, and if he doesn’t correct you, then you don’t really belong to him . . . God corrects us for our own good, because he wants us to be holy, as he is. It is never fun to be corrected. In fact, at the time it is always painful. But if we learn to obey by being corrected, we will do right and live at peace” (Hebrews 12:8, 10-11 CEV).
This happened to the nation of Israel 2,500 years ago. They had fallen into deep idolatry, and God essentially said, “I’m going to cure you of that addiction.” When they were conquered by the Babylonians and hauled off to a foreign country for 70 years, they finally started to listen to God. Israel never reverted to idolatry again.
Why does God shake things up? Because he wants to help us become unshakable, “so that only unshakable things will remain”(Hebrews 12:27 NLT).
We often change only when the pain of staying the same exceeds the fear of change. Sometimes, God has to lay us flat on our backs before we look up to him. Some lessons are only learned through correction after failure or adversity.
“So, what a blessing when God steps in and corrects you! Mind you, don’t despise the discipline of Almighty God! True, he wounds, but he also dresses the wound; the same hand that hurts you, heals you” (Job 5:17-18 MSG).
You’ll go through difficulties to sift out temporary things in your life, keeping only what lasts forever. God wants you to trust that his way and his purpose are better. His correction is proof of his love.
When God corrects you, ask him what you need to learn so you can keep growing.
Talk It Over
• What problem are you facing right now? Instead of asking, “Why me?” what happens when you start asking, “What should I be learning?”
• Have you ever looked at God’s correction as a blessing? Why do you need to change your perspective in this way?
• What does it look like to remain unshakable through adversity?
Jesus is your unshakable foundation.
Jesus is your salvation, a fortress where you won’t be shaken.
He said, “These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life. . . . They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock” (Matthew 7:24-25 MSG).
Jesus’ love is unconditional. He promises to be with you forever. He is the unshakable foundation who will help you become unshakable. But the first step is to accept his promise of salvation.
If you’re ready to commit your life to Jesus, then pray this prayer:
“Dear Jesus, you have promised that if I believe in you, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, and you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven one day.
“I confess my sin, and I receive you into my life as my Lord and Savior. I trust you when you say salvation comes by grace, through faith, and not by anything I do. Today I’m turning over every part of my life to your management.
“I’m grateful for your unconditional love. I want to use the rest of my life to love and serve you instead of serving myself. I commit my life to you and ask you to save me and accept me into your family. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”