Tag: affirmation

Happy is the Man Whom God Corrects

Happy is the Man Whom God Corrects

It’s unusual for us human beings to appreciate being corrected or when someone points out where we need to improve ourselves.  But God says that His correction is a sign of His love for us.  What a beautiful idea that is!

Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you.  (Deut 8:5 NIV)

How happy is the man whom God corrects!  Therefore do not despise the discipline of the Almighty . . .  (Job 5:17 MEV)

My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord or loathe His rebuke, 12 for whom the Lord loves He disciplines, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.  (Pro 3:11-12 NASB)

Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.  (Pro 13:24 ESV)

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.  (Rev 3:19 NKJV)

As these Scripture passages attest, correction from the Lord—as from a loving parent—is an affirmation of His love and care for us. 

In the natural realm, parents train and discipline their children in order to raise up polite, likeable, and confident human beings who will be loved and appreciated wherever they go.  We do this with our children because we love them, and want to see them grow into happy, well-adjusted adults who are an asset to their communities, churches, and families. 

The Lord disciplines us for our own good.  He is performing His work in us to transform us into the image of His own Son.  (2 Cor 3:18; Eph 4:22-24)  Praise God!

Hold Fast

Hold Fast

Today, we are meditating upon “holding fast to the confession of our hope,” as well as to the faithfulness of God.

Our hope is in the perfect and eternal salvation that was provided by God through Jesus Christ.  Once we receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we confess that He IS our Savior. 

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.  (Heb 10:23)

But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.  (2 Thes 3:3)

 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  (Heb 4:14)

Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, set your focus on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.  (Heb 3:1 BSB)

When we “hold fast” to something, we cling to it or grip it securely so as not to let it go.

A confession is a declaration, affirmation, profession or statement.  So, we must hold fast to our declaration that Jesus Christ is our Savior and our Lord.

Since we have made Him our Lord, that means that we love His Word and we obey His Word.  We live according to the standards He established in His Word, and we trust in His faithfulness to every single promise that He has made to us in His Word.

As you research the Bible, you will see that salvation through Jesus Christ furnishes us who love and obey Him with many blessings and benefits:

  • He gives us the desires of our hearts. (Ps 37:4)
  • He daily loads us with benefits and blessings. (Ps 68:19)
  • He gives good things to those who ask Him. (Mt 7:11)
  • He promises us a long life. (Ps 91:16; Pro 3:2; Eph 6:2-3)
  • He is with us always. (Mt 28:20)

This is just a small sampling of the many promises that God has showered upon us through His Word.  And the fulfillment of each and every promise was paid for by Jesus’ sacrifice.  Hallelujah!