Gtcotr/ws041024
You know, one of the things we don’t appreciate about being corrected is getting past the point that we were wrong. It’s hard for some to accept and admit they are wrong.
Many people won’t allow correction in their lives because they are deathly afraid that they would have to admit that what they said or what they did was not right. The ability to see it, say it, and turn away from it is a gift from God called repentance.
We are called to build lives. The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy:
2 Timothy 2
25 In humility correct those who oppose themselves, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may acknowledge the truth,
26 and that they may come to their senses and recover themselves from the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
When we are wrong, we work against the very things that are best for us.
Repentance is a gift, granted by God, so that we might come to our senses, turn to the truth, recover ourselves from that snare of the devil, and stop opposing what is best for us.
No doubt God uses other people in our lives to challenge us to change when we are wrong. Not everyone with an opinion is right even when they have a smile on their face. However, when they are right, they are right.
As well:
Hebrews 12:8 If God doesn’t discipline you as He does all of His children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really His children at all.
Discipline/Chastisement in this verse means:
These are progressive encouragements which, if ignored, can lead a person to become reprobate and void of the ability to accept or embrace correction. Being reprobate, in the Bible sense as found in Romans 1, is like doing wrong so long you think wrong is right. Blind to the truth.
Steps to rekindling hope when we just can’t see it:
If we have no hope in Christ, we have missed something.
The ability to be corrected and accept and admit you are wrong will make you a better and a nicer person, only if you change.
Why are we discussing correction so much in respect to rekindling hope? Because that is the exact approach Jesus took with the two men who He found walking on the road to Emmaus. Let’s pick back up on the account from Luke 24. You may recall from last week’s message concerning ‘Hope Deferred’, that these two men were devastated. They had lost all hope after the crucifixion.
The account took place on Sunday afternoon, on the day Jesus was resurrected from the dead, after Jesus had already appeared to the women at the garden tomb.
These two disciples were walking to a village about 7 miles from Jerusalem and while they walked along Jesus joined them and asked what they were discussing in such a sad manner. They did not recognize Jesus and were surprised someone did not know what all had taken place in Jerusalem during the Passover. Jesus simply replied, “What things?”
At this point, the men shared their disappointments and loss of hope in Jesus of Nazareth. Things just didn’t turn out the way they imagined they would. And in the fog of their disappointments, more confusion was added by some women who claimed they spoke to angels who said Jesus was alive. However, some of the disciples had actually gone to the tomb and didn’t see Jesus anywhere. One of these two men told Jesus:
Luke 24:21 “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.”
“We were hoping” … not anymore though. Circumstances we didn’t expect changed our minds about Jesus and about the future redemption of Israel.
Jesus came to these men for a reason. Jesus needed these men to encourage others and be a witness for Him. However these men had lost hope in Jesus … they couldn’t see a better day.
How can you encourage anyone else if you cannot encourage yourself? These two good and godly guys were going the wrong way with the wrong message. Thankfully, Jesus was with them. They came from Jerusalem with a dead Jesus message and needed to turn around and go back to Jerusalem immediately with a living Jesus message. They must have needed a little shock to get their attention.
Jesus said:
Luke 24
25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
26 “Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?”
27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther.
29 But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.
30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.
The correction they received restored their hope.
31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”
33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who werewith them gathered together,
34 saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”
35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.
Open your eyes, open your ears, and open your heart to the education, cultivation, correction, and command from the Lord. Don’t just be a good godly person going the wrong way with the wrong message. You may need a 180.
When we walk with Jesus, hope deferred does not have to be the last word. Hope deferred can become hope rekindled. One word from Jesus, one revelation of Him, one invitation for Him to come in, one opening of the scriptures to an open heart is all it takes for our hope to be restored. O the joy of being filled again with the hope we find in Christ.
What can you do if you are swimming in disappointment, wallowing in hope deferred? Invite the risen Savior into your heart and mind and be willing to change. He just might send a messenger to you!
