Devotional #22     

The Responsibility and Power of the Ministry of Rebuke

We see in 2 Timothy 4:2, and in Titus 2:15 that Paul encourages ministers of the Gospel that rebuking is a part of their service to the church. There are many benefits of rebuke, both to the believer who rebukes and to the saint who is rebuked. Imagine a family in which the parents never correct their children. Of course, we would all admit that such children are a danger to others as well as to themselves. In truth, correction is a part of a loving relationship.  Proverbs 27:5, 6 says, “Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” Someone who loves you will say things that may at first be offensive to you, but in the end you’ll realize are in your best interest. Furthermore, you don’t take the time to correct someone you don’t care about. It’s easier to just distance yourself from people with whom you are having conflict, than it is to address the matter. However, in Luke 17:3, Jesus commands us, “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.”

On several occasions, the Lord placed a word of rebuke on my heart for one of the brethren. Whenever He’s done so, He’s reminded me to first check myself. I needed to be right spiritually to be clear that the rebuke was given in His timing, in His love, according to His Word and that I first repented for my sins and particularly in line with the specific rebuke. I knew He wouldn’t want it delivered from a self-righteous or hypocritical attitude. In Luke 6:37-42, Jesus said, “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” And He spoke a parable to them: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.”

            Yes, a true rebuke is an administration of God’s love. But, rebuking scoffers, and fools are vain pursuits, according to Proverbs 9:7-9. A wise person will love you for a rebuke and gain even more wisdom, the scripture tells us! Proverbs 28:23 states, “He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward than he who flatters with the tongue.”

            One evening, while I was praying with several believers, the Lord gave me a word for one woman in the group. I said to her that the word was in part a rebuke, which actually made her resistant to hear it. Like many, she saw ‘rebuke’ as a solely negative word. Once I convinced her that I was confident that it was from the Lord, she was willing to hear it. I relayed God’s message: “The Lord said that you are a fire. Fire left to its own devices can bring about great destruction, like a wildfire destroying acres of forest, or smoke from a fire can chock the life out of people. However, when fire is controlled properly it is an agent of warmth, a source of nourishment, as it cooks food, light in the darkness and so much more. If you place yourself in God’s hands, He will use you for good (paraphrased as I remember it)!” She went home that night in tears. When I next saw her, in church several days later, she came to me smiling. She was grateful that I was obedient to deliver God's word to her! She knew that this word was in fact from the Lord, and from the moment she first heard it He had been dealing with and healing her!

See It for Yourself: 2 Timothy 4:2, Titus 2:15, Proverbs 27:5-6, Luke 17:3, 6:37-42, Proverbs 9:7-9, 28:23, Revelation 3:19

Prayer Focus:

Dear Lord,

A timely rebuke, given in love is like Your hand extended to lift us up out of the muck and mire of sin. May we always be obedient to give and receive Godly rebuke and repent joyfully.

In Jesus’ name we pray, 

Amen.

Working It Out: 

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.

Therefore be zealous and repent.”  Revelation 3:19