Correction

How do I receive correction?  That was the "God question" that came to me during our Sunday sermon yesterday.  Our Pastor/Elder was speaking about Paul's conversion and subsequent start to his ministry.

Acts 9:3-9

3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”

5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked.

And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

7 The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! 8 Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. 9 He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.

In Paul's case this correction was needed to change his whole way of thinking, his very core beliefs that he held for his entire life.  For us it may be smaller, a change in a certain behavior or thought pattern.  Or it could be, like Paul's, a life altering size change.

But it was Paul's handling of it that struck me.  He didn't rail against this Jesus who spoke to Him. Didn't question the God whom he served with such fervor, albeit wrongly.  He didn't wallow in guilt and self pity.   He allowed himself to be led into town, then fasted and prayed for three days.  He sought answers.  He sought the Lord.

Do I do that?  Do I take the time to listen, to gain strength from the Lord to make the changes He is asking of me?  Not usually.  Yes, I try to implement them.  Yes, I try to be obedient...but more often than not, I fail.  Perhaps it is because I am not giving enough time to allowing the Lord to change me. When I am corrected, do I sit in His presence long enough for Him to work the change in me?  Or do I rush out of my prayer closet, forgetting His instruction in the busyness of the day?  I'm not saying I don't remember from time to time during the day...and maybe that is the start of the change, but I do believe I could stand to do better, and in some instances a lot better!

Paul spent three days in prayer and fasting when the Lord challenged his whole belief system.  He took it that seriously.  And maybe if I did the same I would be seeing more progress in my walk with the Lord, more victory over the sin in my life.  Perhaps it's not prayer and fasting for three days, but another route to get that place of understanding and change, but it's still focusing on what the Lord is saying and gaining His strength to make the necessary changes.

Lord, I pray now, I sit now...make the changes in me You desire.  Let my heart be open to Your correction and discipline that I may glorify You in all things.  I don't want to be a forgetful hearer.

James 1:22-25  And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to.  If you don't obey, you are only fooling yourself.  For if you just listen and don't obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance.  You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.  But if you keep looking steadily into God's perfect law--the law that sets you free--and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.  

I just love these "God questions!!"