May 2025
Happy To Be Corrected?
Job 5:17 – ‘Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.’
Does it make you ‘happy’ when someone corrects you? According to the verse above, ‘how happy is the man whom God reproves,’ or corrects. We shouldn’t be angry or bitter with God for His corrections, and ‘not despise the discipline of the
Almighty.’ Instead, we should be ‘happy’ when we are corrected or chastised. Why? As Christians, our desire is to be as Christ-like as possible; to walk faithfully with Him each day. But, due to our sinful nature, we often stray and sin. In those instances, God has every right to chastise and correct us so that we will not sin against Him again. Jeremiah 10:24 – ‘Correct me, O Lord, but with justice; not with your anger, or You will bring me to nothing.’ We should be ‘happy’ that we serve such a loving God who desires that we be obedient to Him, and to live God glorifying lives, even if that means correcting us from time to time.
Consider these verses also:
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Psalm 94:12 – ‘Blessed is the man whom You chasten, O Lord, and whom You teach out of Your law.’
Proverbs 3:11 – ‘My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord or loathe His reproof.’
Proverbs 15:32 – ‘He who neglects discipline despises himself, but he who listens to reproof acquires
understanding.’
Hebrews 12:11 – ‘All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who
have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.’
So, are you and I ‘happy’ when God needs to correct or chastise us? If we are honest, we have to say No! But we need to get past our feelings, and realize that God means correction for our betterment. When He corrects or chastises us about something, the ideal thing is to accept it with gratitude and thankfulness, and to learn from it.
Does that make you ‘happy?’ Me neither! But it’s necessary, so let’s just embrace those times when it occurs.
Pastor Thomas
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April 2025
Feeling Thankful During This Resurrection Season
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Do you sometimes feel less than thankful for all that you have? Is there a way we can be more thankful for everything God has given us? Are we genuinely thankful that Jesus Christ suffered and died on our behalf, and in our place?
The three questions I have asked above are vital ones in regard to our own outlook on life, and how we see
things. Psalm 92:1 – ‘It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High.’
When life gets busy, aren’t we prone to forget even the basic blessings God has bestowed upon us; life itself,
health, family, friends, marriage, work/career, finances, and hobbies, to name just a few. Even the very air we breathe is His gift to us. How many of God’s blessings do we take for granted, or give little thought to on a
daily basis?
The most important thing to be thankful for, especially during this resurrection season, is Jesus Christ. When we consider what Jesus did for us on the cross at Calvary, how can we be anything but thankful? John 19:30 – ‘Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.’ At that moment, Jesus had paid the price for your sins, and mine. When the full penalty had been paid, only then could Jesus say that it was finished. Jesus had completed the mission He was sent to accomplish by His Father.
Then we read these wonderful words in Matthew 28:5-6 – “The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as
He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.” 'By overcoming death, Jesus guaranteed us eternal life. He had defeated the devil, and in so doing, gave us the free gift of salvation found only in Him. John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Do the truths contained in this verse cause you to be thankful and grateful to our Lord Jesus?
Here are some additional ways we can be thankful in our daily lives:
1) Take time each day to stop and thank God for His many blessings
2) Use wisely what God has given to you
3) Give freely to others
4) Live your life for Christ, and not for yourself
The Bible tells us in Colossians 3:2 – “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on
earth.” First Baptist, I pray that this article, and my suggestions, will help guide you in being more thankful in
your lives, not only in this resurrection season, but all year long.
Pastor Thomas