“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.” Revelation 3:19
Recently a friend shared how these words caught his eye as he read the message to the Church in Laodicea. He pointed out that when disciplined, we often apologize, but do we truly repent? Too often we view repentance as only a feeling, rather than an action. When God disciplines us, he desires more than a feeling. He desires our lives to change.
The same friend explained that an inspector for the fire department came to his apartment. The inspector commented on boxes stored beside the hot water heater. He said they needed to be moved because they were a fire hazard. Since my friend is limited in storage space, moving the boxes requires a creative solution. Although the threat of fire is real, it didn’t necessarily motivate him to change immediately.
My friend was not in trouble, but he felt rebuked as he was told to do something to make his home safer. God often tells us to do things, which will make us safer. Just as my friend has the choice to heed the inspector or not, we have the choice to change or not when God rebukes.
When we face discipline, do we acknowledge the potential threat that God warns us against?
How often do we let barriers (like not knowing what to do with our stuff) keep us from change?
How will you be motivated to affect change and truly repent when God rebukes and disciplines you?
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