My Heart Despised Correction

Stop and think about it for a moment: we really do despise correction.

We don’t like being told we’re wrong or that our actions are sinful.

How come that is?

Pride.

It is at the root of our evil hearts. Jeremiah said it best:

    “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

While instructing his son on the virtue of wisdom and against the human trap of adultery, Solomon warns of words we do not want to speak:

    “How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised correction! I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me! I was on the verge of total ruin, in the midst of the assembly and congregation.” (Proverbs 5:12-14)

Mind you this state of behavior does not happen overnight; it comes from a lifestyle of disobedience to the Lord’s commandments.

At first we stop reading our Bibles because we don’t want to be reminded of our wickedness.

Next we begin to rationalize our behavior, sometimes referring to the NTFV Bible (New Touchy Feely Version) and say God’s grace will cover our sins. Now this is true and if you find yourself comfortable with that position you might want to check your “Get Into Heaven” card; it might be counterfeit.

From this point we begin scoffing the “legalism” of churches: “Those tee-totaling Baptists and all their rules!”

You can even get to the point where you stop seeking the advice of the wise men and women you used to consult with because you already know what they are going to say and quite frankly you don’t want to hear it. Solomon called that too long ago:

    “A scoffer does not love one who corrects him, nor will he go to the wise.” (Proverbs 15:12)

Have you ever noticed how much the world hates us “Bible Thumpers”? We the “holier than thou” crowd who are always trying to push our beliefs onto other people. Why do you think there is such rampant moral relativism in this post-modern world in which we live? And how is it that the One so lovely can be so despised by man? Jesus predicted this:

    “The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.” (John 7:7)

Now Jesus was speaking to His unbelieving brothers, but those of us who call ourselves Christians the world indeed hates us. That’s why we don’t witness. Most Christians will tell you the number one reason they don’t witness is fear of failure but if you really get to the root of it, most Christians fear ridicule.

Ridicule!

“Speech or action intended to cause contemptuous laughter at a person or thing.” (Random House Dictionary)

That’s what we’re afraid of?! Ridicule?!

    “And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center.” (John 19:17-18)

They crucified Him…literally… “To put to death by nailing or binding the hands and feet to a cross” (Random House Dictionary).

Beloved we must understand that Christianity is counter-culture; it is counter to our flesh; and if the Holy Spirit does not reign supreme in our hearts, Christianity is counter to our wicked hearts.

Is that you? Have you lost your first love for Jesus? Have you become like the once holy church of Ephesus?

    “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.” (Revelation 2:4-5)

How far have you fallen? It’s never too late to return. The Devil will tell you otherwise, but Jesus promises us restoration if we will “repent and do the first works.”

Do you remember what you were like when you first got saved? You couldn’t get enough of your Bible. Sadly for too many of us now our Bibles can’t get enough air because they’re only opened for an hour or so on Sunday.

Go back to the Word; you’ll fall in love with it again.

That’s a necessary question isn’t it? Do you love your Bible? Do you love how it speaks to it?

What’s that? “Bro Dave my Bible doesn’t speak to me.”

Oh?

Take it off “mute.”

That happens when you open it on a regular basis and actually allow it to nourish your soul.

So why is it that you’ve got to the point that you hardly read your Bible? Go back to my first sentence above.

Stop and think about it for a moment: we really do despise correction.

Have you come to the realization that your heart despises correction; allow the Great Physician to perform some heavenly surgery.

Perhaps your heart has never been touched by Jesus; allow Him to give you a heart transplant.

Confess your sins to Jesus, acknowledge His sacrifice on the cross for your sins, accept the new life you can have because of His resurrection, and make Him Lord of your life.

It is amazing what God can do with a wicked heart.

Actually, it is a miracle.

I pray you have personally experienced this miracle.

I also pray that you have a very blessed weekend and please remember to go to church on Sunday.

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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    Copyright © 2010 David Jeffers

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