I Thought You Will Accept Correction!

Zephaniah 3:7
Of Jerusalem I thought,
‘Surely you will fear me
and accept correction!’
Then her place of refuge would not be destroyed,
nor all my punishments come upon her.
But they were still eager
to act corruptly in all they did.

Correction implemented would have made a difference. Now, these are words of regret. God speaks to Israel through the prophet Zephania. God tells them they would have evaded the worst occurrences in their life if they had accepted correction from God. I thought you will accept correction!

God gave corrections not because He enjoys looking bossy while correcting Israel. God gave corrections not because He enjoys interfering with people’s life. God gave corrections not because He enjoys being in charge. God gave corrections because He had good intentions for His people. God gave corrections because He loves His people and He wishes them the best in life. But it seems God’s people misunderstood God’s intention in correcting them and they ignored the corrections. I thought you will accept correction!

We are very sensitive to being corrected. Sometimes we feel condemned. Sometimes we misunderstand the one correcting us. Many times we do not take the corrections in good faith. Our own insecurities interfere with our ability to appreciate the correction. Oh, that we would have a spirit that appreciates corrections and consequently benefits from correction. Oh, that we would ignore the thorns and appreciate the rose flower. If only we could ignore our insecurities and accept correction we would not cause God to regret as He did in our text today. I thought you will accept correction!

God tells the people that if they had feared Him, they would accept the corrections. To fear God is to have reverence for God. To fear God is to have a good relationship with Him. To fear God is to give Him the right place in our lives where He is central and supreme. If we fear God, then corrections from Him would be immediately implemented without question. That is why God tells Israel through Zephania, that if you fear Me, you would accept my corrections. I thought you will accept correction!

Therefore failure to implement corrections means we doubt God’s intentions or we do not recognize Him as God in our lives. Failure to accept correction is a loud and dangerous statement. No wonder God tells them that as a result, disaster and destruction will follow. They would have avoided the disaster and destruction if they had accepted correction. I thought you will accept correction!

We obey corrections from employers who can fire us from income-generating jobs. Why can’t we obey correction from God who can withdraw life and we die instantly? Does our disobedience mean we actually doubt the existence of God? It is possible to confess that God exists but live as if He doesn’t exist. I thought you will accept correction!

God uses parents to correct their children. If we do not correct children, we fail in our God-given assignments and their blood will be on our heads. God uses teachers to correct us. God uses leaders to correct us. God uses religious programs and articles on radio, television, blogs, the internet, etc. to correct us. God uses preachers to correct us. Do we accept and implement the correction? I thought you will accept correction!

We need to correct how we live our physical lives. Good health depends on the choice of food, drinks, and other habits. We need to correct our social lives. Our interpersonal relationships must be good and caring for others. we should find pleasure in the company of others and others should find pleasure in our company. Do not make it difficult for people to relate with you or hang around you. We need to correct our financial lives. Our income sources need to be more than one. We must learn to invest and save rather than just spending. We need financial self-control. We need to correct our spiritual lives. Our erratic church attendance. Our poor giving in the church. Our permanent criticism of everything religious. Corrections abound in every aspect of life. I thought you will accept correction!

If teenagers accept correction many will avoid premarital pregnancies and getting hooked into drugs. If we had accepted correction we would not be addicts that we are today. If we had accepted correction our relationships and marriages would not have strayed so far off the course. If we had accepted correction we would still be active in the church. If we had accepted correction we would not have incurred losses or closed that promising business. We always regret it if we ignore corrections. The worst things happened to Israelites because they did not accept correction. I thought you will accept correction!

May God help me to get the corrections clearly. Corrections from God through people, like parents, seniors, teachers, leaders, and from His word. May acceptance of corrections from God avert disaster and destruction in my life. I accept corrections, in Jesus’ name, Amen!