August 21

Proverbs 3:12 says, “Whom the Lord loves He corrects.” Again in Proverbs 10:17 we are told, “He who heeds instruction is in the way of life and is a way of life for others.” These are essential truths regarding instruction that we are often reluctant to accept.

The reality is that many, perhaps most—OK all of us—balk at times against correction. It goes contrary to the grain of our nature to submit graciously when we are being told we’re off base. We might say that it isn’t God who we’re resisting, we merely dislike it when other people confront us with the suggestion that we have room for improvement.

But the reality is that God isn’t likely to sit by our bed one morning and give us a list of suggested improvements we might make to our attitude or our actions or our conversations for the day. The probability is that He will try to connect with us in one of two other ways.

If we are diligent to read His Word, if our busy schedules allow us to read and drink in His Word, He clearly speaks to matters of the heart and mind and spirit there. He also allows the people around us to address our foibles. If we are surrendered to His Holy Spirit, we will accept correction from these sources.