The Rebuke
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2 Timothy 4:2(AMP) Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching.
Introduction: We bless the name of the Lord who daily loads us with benefits. Are you asking what benefits? Let us think about just one benefit; oxygen we breathed for existence in the past 7days that we visited this site will cost =N=756,000 based on the price of oxygen per day as at 2019 if price remains static for the past 4years which is impossible in Nigeria now that exchange rate of Naira to a Dollar is =N =1,000.
We bless You wonderful Lord and glorify Your Holy name in Jesus name
In the course of family devotion, we read our text for today and the word “Rebuke” stuck in my heart.
To rebuke means to speak severely or chastise for wrong doings.
I have observed that no one wants rebuke despite acknowledgement of the wrong done. The mood of our children when rebuked or corrected is usually unpleasant with an attempt to defend indefensible. This attitude does not even exclude adults and couples under rebuke. Most times we leave the wrong that is done and dwell on manner of rebuke, thereby losing sight of what is done wrong. This is one of the human natures that we need to consciously deal with.
Do we consider the Rebuke as love or hatred? Seeing it as love brings genuine repentance and quickly put human nature that generate anger at the Rebuke under control.
Revelation 3:19(AMP) Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude].
As children, it is usually very painful to realise later in life after the demise of our parents that the Rebuke received was due to love and not hatred. This is also the same among couples.
Proverbs 3:12 (AMP) For whom the Lord loves He corrects, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
If we sincerely examine ourselves, rebuke or correction no matter how it is presented is grievous to the human nature due to deadly attributes of the Old man or Sinful nature.
Proverbs 15:10 Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.
The Old man inside will justify our wrongdoing and attacks the one who rebukes as “proud” and “holier than thou” thereby refusing rebuke. Enemy of our souls wants to keep us away from understanding so as to dwell among the dead unknowingly.
Proverbs 15:32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
Proverbs 15:32(NLT) If you reject criticism, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.
Most times, the Old man or Sinful nature makes us not to judge ourselves but judge the one who rebukes us for wrongdoing.
1 Corinthians 11:31-32 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Remember our childhood days, if your sibling caught you stealing meat from the pot, rebuked you, and said “I will tell daddy”, that sinful nature will remind you of your sibling’s past offence and you will say “I will also tell that you used daddy’s perfume”. The human nature will thereby make you to justify wrongdoing by judging your sibling. If we are not growing by His words as expected, we shall carry childish behaviour into adulthood and continue in matrimony.
1 Corinthians 13:11(AMP) When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside.
We are all subject to faults as long as we dwell in the Flesh. I imagine how Peter would feel when Paul, who was junior to him as per salvation rebuked him for being hypocritical.
Galatians 2:11-12(NLT) But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him publicly, speaking strongly against what he was doing, for it was very wrong. When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile Christians, who don’t bother with circumcision. But afterward, when some Jewish friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore because he was afraid of what these legalists would say.
What do you think Peter of this generation will do despite knowing Paul is right? Your guess is as good as mine.
Finally, brethren, no rebuke is pleasant or comes with joy for natural man, but brings peace and right standing with God for those who are spiritual.
Hebrews 12:11(AMP) For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness–in conformity to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God].
Do not consider the tears of your children and loved ones under rebuke when there is hope, because there will be a time they will pass rebuke or no more available to correct their wrongdoing.
Proverbs 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
Proverbs 19:18(GNS) Discipline your children while they are young enough to learn. If you don’t, you are helping them destroy themselves.
There will be great peace in the homes of those who love and abide by the word of God. They will not be offended by rebuke.
Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
✋ Maranatha
