“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Now that we have been looking at this verse for several days, you should have these verses memorized by now! Actually, this really would be another very good verse to memorize.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching and rebuking.
Ok. What did you think when you saw rebuking?
Under most circumstances this would be a really bad word. No one likes being rebuked.
“I REBUKE YOU!!!”
Just looking at that sentence makes me cringe.
But there are times when a rebuke is absolutely necessary. There are times when a rebuke is a tremendous gift and an act of grace.
- Don’t go down that path. That pathway leads to death.
- Get your head out of the clouds. It doesn’t matter how he makes you feel. You are married and you are a mother. Act like it. This will ruin you and your family if you keep messing around!
When our selfish actions will result in devastating consequences, a good rebuke is a gift and an act of grace. If you are lucky enough to have someone who loves you enough to take the risk to rebuke you in such circumstances count yourself blessed!
Here’s the thing. Because we are sinners, and repeat sinners at that, when we open ourselves to the truth and the teaching of God’s word, it will rebuke us. We are sinners, after all.
But this rebuke is a gift and an act of grace. The rebuke of God saves us and those we love from heartache.
Open yourself to the truth revealed in scripture. Let God’s word tell you what you need to work on and what you need to change. You and all those around you will be better for it.
Praxis: Faith in Action 