God’s Reproofs Are Instructional

These things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

–1 Corinthians 10:11

God disciplines us not because He hates us but because He loves us. His reproofs are both impartial and helpful. Finally, God’s reproofs are instructional. God sends difficult circumstances into our lives for our benefit, yes, but also for the benefit of others. Paul said the reason God struck His people, the Israelites, dead in the wilderness was to serve as a warning for future generations (1 Corinthians 10:11). When God disciplines His children, we become object lessons of what it costs to rebel against God.

In Acts 5, a couple named Ananias and Sapphira lied about how much money they gave to the church, and God struck them both dead. Verse 11 says, “Great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.” Can you imagine what would happen if lightning struck somebody in the middle of a church service? It would certainly get your attention, especially if you knew that the person had been involved in sin. Nobody would fall asleep during the sermon that day!

Years ago, I was sitting in an airplane at DFW International Airport, waiting for a late-night flight to San Diego. As I looked out the window, suddenly I saw an orange flame shoot out from the wing of the plane parked next to us. About a minute later, it happened again. I told the flight attendant, “Ma’am, I think the plane next to us is on fire.” She said, “Sir, that couldn’t be.” At about that moment, the whole wing burst into flames. The back door of the plane opened, the inflatable slide came down, and people started bounding out of the airplane. Everybody on our plane had a front-row seat to the commotion.

Finally, it was time for our plane to depart. As we were taxiing down the runway, the flight attendant explained the safety protocols and emergency exits. Usually people are asleep or reading during those announcements. But that night, we were hanging on to every word she said. Some people were even taking notes! Having just witnessed a calamity made us especially sensitive to warnings.

If you have recently been bombarded with hardships, don’t immediately write off those difficulties as misfortune. And don’t gloat at the misfortune other Christians are experiencing. Many times, God uses difficult circumstances in our lives or in the lives of others to get the attention of His children who are living in the far country.

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Today’s devotion is adapted from “When God Steps In” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2009.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.