Bible reading: Revelation 3:19-20 (AMP) “To those who I dearly and tenderly love, I rebuke and discipline showing them their faults and instructing them; so be enthusiastic and repent (change your inner self, your old way of thinking, your sinful behaviour, seek God’s will). Behold I stand at the door of the church and continually knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him (restore him), and he with me.”
Have you ever felt discouraged by the weight of conviction that washes over you when you read the Bible? Many of us have had those moments when we shy away from God’s Word because facing our flaws feels overwhelming. It’s almost as if we believe overcoming our faults is impossible. But what if I told you this conviction is a testament to God’s deep love for you?
You might wonder, how can feeling remorseful and solemn be a sign of God’s love? Think of it this way: just like a responsible parent, God’s aim isn’t always to keep us in perpetual happiness. Instead, through His discipline, He molds us into individuals who live in holiness, qualifying us to enter into His eternal kingdom. And this process requires us to crucify our flesh (i.e., our sinful nature) and its desires daily.
We often forget that the human heart is inherently inclined towards evil. Due to Adam and Eve’s disobedience, we are born into sin, with a flesh that craves things that are contrary to God’s will. Consequently, condeming us to eternal spiritual death. However, through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, we are liberated from the clutches of sin. When we embrace Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit, instilling in us both the desire and the ability to do God’s will (Philippians 2:13).
Nevertheless, our sinful nature remains a persistent force in our lives. Without the Holy Spirit’s conviction, we’d risk becoming unrepentant, spiralling further into sin and its inevitable consequences. Therefore, though the experience of conviction isn’t pleasant, it serves as a catalyst, propelling us to continually strive towards a life guided by the Spirit of God.
So, the next time you feel saddened by God’s discipline, see it as an evidence of His love. Thank Him for caring enough to reveal your faults and ask in faith for the grace to overcome them.
Psalm 139:23-24 (GNT) “Examine me, O God, and know my mind; test me and discover my thoughts. Find out if there is any evil in me and guide me in the way everlasting.”
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