"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOD BLESSING US BY HIS CORRECTION"
Job 4:17 “Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.
Job 4:18 For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole.
Some explanatory thoughts, applications, questions, and a prayer:
The Book of Job is believed to be the oldest book in the Bible.
It's a story of how God allowed a man's faith to be tested to the limit.
And, Job passed the test, and in the end was blessed more than before.
We are simply going to look at 2 verses which deal with the blessing of God in our lives as He corrects us.
1. Happiness is found in the man whom God corrects.
Job 4:17 “Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.
God actually will bring joy in to our lives through His correction.
It sounds odd to think that, but it's true.
It's not joyful when we are being chastened, but it yields joy if we yield to God through the process.
Chastening means, correction, instruction, to be taught.
Sometimes we bring on the chastening ourselves, but there are other times where God is the initiator.
He does so to help us learn, grow and mature in our walk with Him.
2. We are instructed not to despise the chastening of God.
Job 4:17 “Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty.
To despise means, to reject, abhor, become loathsome, refuse.
It's not easy to accept correction.
God knows that it's not easy.
And perhaps this is why we are instructed not to despise His correction.
3. Chastening is not pleasant to go through, but God binds us up, He wounds, but His hands make whole.
Job 4:18 For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole.
This is very informative.
While the chanting is not pleasant, we are told what God will do for us through it.
He will bind us up.
He may wound us through the chanting, but He follows it up by binding us up.
It's through His hands working in our lives that we are made whole, and put on the right path.
Some questions:
1. Have you ever taken the time to think about the fact that Your heavenly Father loves you so much that He will take the time to bring correction into your life when needed?
2. If you have been corrected by God you have a personal testimony do you not of the joy that follows the correction?
3. Doesn't it make sense to let the one who knows everything have His way with us in this matter of correction?
4. Isn't it true that though He wounds, He also bandages, and though He strikes, He also heals with His hands?
A prayer:
Father who do we have in heaven that is like You? No one. Who do we have anywhere here on earth like You? No one.
You alone are God, and You alone have all the wisdom, and all the power and love to bring correction into our lives.
Father we want to be those that do not despise, but welcome Your correction.
And, we want to say thank You for all the correction that You have brought into our lives over the years.
We love You Lord God. In Jesus name. Amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
