Correction...

I always pray that the Holy Spirit will lead me to the scripture that I need for the day.  This morning as I prayed for guidance I was led to Titus 1:13.  I thought I would continue in Ezra, where I started yesterday, but the Holy Spirit led me away. His will, not mine.

Anyway...Titus 1:13 NLT says, "This is true. So reprimand them sternly to make them strong in faith."  If you read it in context, Titus is referring to behaviors of elders. I read the chapter but kept being led back to the one verse.

The Holy Spirit spoke to me through this verse, giving better insight into why trials and tribulation should mean more than suffering and sadness.

God doesn't make us sin. In fact, He tries to guide us, with Holy Spirit power, away from sin and inappropriate behavior, unbecoming of a child of God.  However, we are hard-headed and make mistakes that lead us down the wrong paths. 

When we fall, God wants to help us.  He will reprimand us and try to get us back in full fellowship with Him.  The reprimand is God saying that He disapproves and loves us enough to want to help us. 

We may view God's reprimand as punishment but I don't feel that that is what He wants.  He wants us to understand that He is being corrective with us to save us.  He wants us to be in His will.  He wants us to have faith that He knows best.  (Father Knows Best/wasn't that a tv show? Lol)

If we fail to heed the warning of the reprimand, I believe that God will follow up with punishment.  He has already paid the ultimate price for our sins through death on the cross but He can still punish on this earth in an attempt to bring you back into His will.

Think about it like this...
When we were in school, there were progressive steps in discipline.  If you messed up, the teacher would usually chat with you and tell you how to correct the issue. If the issue persisted, the next step was being issued a demerit.  Then, if you still had a problem with that issue, it usually meant in-school suspension.  Finally, the issue could lead to suspension that made you stay at home or even expulsion.

This system was in place to help you in learning the right way.  The school and teachers did not do all of this to be mean and hateful. They weren't trying to hold you back or make you look bad.  They wanted you to succeed and be the best that you could be.

I truly believe that God does things that way too.  He will do what it takes to make you the best you can be for His Kingdom and His glory. He loves you THAT MUCH!!! If He didn't, He wouldn't have cared enough to pay that huge price that gives you eternal life.

God's already done the "expulsion" part for you-the worst of the correction process.  He has kept us from the burning death of Hell. He wants us to be grateful for the correction He offers us while on earth.  He wants us to tell others about how He made us into a better child for His glory.  Call on Him in the trials and correction to give you strength and wisdom.