Mensa Otabil - Don't Despise God's Correction (10/01/2025)
Proverbs chapter 3, verses 11 and 12: «My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction; for whom the Lord loves, He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.» We’ve been looking at the book of Proverbs, specifically chapter three, and it starts by addressing «my son.» This does not mean that this is only for men or males; rather, it is a parent speaking to a child. We take it as God the Father speaking to His children, providing instructions that are important for us to live our lives.
Here, we have been introduced to an aspect of God that, most times, we forget: that God, as a Father, doesn’t only give good gifts to us, but He also corrects us. The God who can be trusted to smooth the paths and obstacles in our way should also be trusted to smooth out the flaws in our character. If we want God to move mountains out of our way, we must also trust Him to remove character defects from us. If we can trust Him to supply all our needs, then we can trust Him to discipline us. The Bible says that God chastens and God corrects.
The word «chasten» means to discipline or to train; it is like making something straight. It’s akin to when a tree is growing, and a straight rod is held to the tree so that it may grow straight; that is chastening, the discipline and training for the tree to stand upright. The Bible talks about correction, which is different; it’s when you have gone wrong or gone crooked, and God has to rebuke, correct, and straighten you. God straightens us so that we are not crooked, but if we become crooked, or when we do, He will straighten us, rebuke us, and punish us. The warning is twofold: He says do not despise and do not detest when God is doing that to you. In other words, when God is correcting you, don’t be angry, don’t despise it, don’t take it lightly, and don’t walk away from the discipline because He is doing it out of love.
There are many ways in which God disciplines His children. When we go astray, sometimes He turns His eyes away from us; this does not mean God doesn’t see us; He sees us, but His protective covering is removed from us. Sometimes God removes His favor from us, and at other times, He withdraws His hand, His power, from manifesting. You can go through a season where it almost seems as if God has left you. He hasn’t left you; the Bible says He loves you and is doing something in your life. You need to sit back and ask yourself: why is my Father not doing this for me as He has been? Why is my Father not providing these things that He used to provide for me? Why am I going through what I am experiencing?
If you ask yourself those questions, you may realize that something you have done has turned you away from your Father God, and He wants you to come back to Him. When things go wrong in our lives, we shouldn’t just blame the devil; I know that is the first thing people want to do. However, it is very worthwhile for us to ask ourselves: what is God telling me? What is God teaching me? What does God want me to learn from this? Because if He loves us enough to move mountains out of our way, He also loves us enough to remove wrong characteristics from our lives. We must trust God to move both the mountains and the flaws in our character. The Lord chastens, and the Lord corrects, and may you have a heart that receives correction from God without turning away from Him. Let’s share a word of prayer.
Say with me: «Heavenly Father, I know You love me and want the best for me. Help me to receive Your discipline and correction with a good heart. In Jesus' name, Amen.» The Lord loves you, and nothing He does is out of hatred for you; everything is out of His love for you. May His love correct you and straighten you out. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.