Daily Devotional for Thursday, June 12

Paul’s Appeal

“I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you,” 1 Corinthians 4:14.

“This is going to hurt me more than it’s going to hurt you.” That is one of the biggest lies I have ever heard. I never once saw my dad crying and screaming after he spanked me. He normally looked a tad bit angry, but not hurting. I understand the sentiment, though. He did not particularly enjoy spanking me, nor did he want to hurt me. Because he loved me, he disciplined me to change my behavior and shape my life.

            Paul faced a similar situation at Corinth. He had a hard letter to write to them. It was filled with correction and even rebuke. At times, he had to talk about difficult subjects. This letter spoke of their failures of doctrine, their failures in morality and their failures in love. To write this letter must have been very painful for him. He understood the meaning of it hurting him more than it hurt them. Because of this, he wanted to reassure them that he was writing to them not to shame them but to show his love and care for them. He was treating them as his children, as his sons. He did not want to hurt them; he wanted to help heal them.

            Sometimes we hear things from the Word of God that cut against who we are. If this does not happen, we are probably not paying attention. Occasionally the preacher has to speak about our sin instead of someone else’s. Rather than getting mad or hurt or ashamed, listen to the Word of God. Examine what is being said rather than being instantly offended. If Paul loved the Corinthians as a father and spoke from the heart of a father, how much more our actual Father in Heaven through the Scriptures? Let the Word of God do its work of correcting and healing.

REFLECTION

His discipline is grace; our ignorance is punishment. Thank God when He speaks to our sin.

Jason Rutherford