Correction and Counsel

"Trusted counsel from reliable people, not rumors, is the stuff of good self-assessment." -John Piper

"A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool" Proverbs 17:10

"It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools." Ecc. 7:5

"Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him." Luke 17: 3

"preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." 2 Tim 4:2

"Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?" Job 38:2

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;" Psalm 1:1

The original hebrew of rebuke is "Elegcho"...which means to convict, refute, confute generally with a suggestion of shame of the person convicted by conviction to bring to the light, to expose to find fault with, correct by word to reprehend severely, chide, admonish, reprove to call to account, show one his fault, demand an explanation... these are all harsh by today's standard. We preach love and grace but forget that truly loving one another is convicting one another through admonishment or calling someone's actions into account. It is no wonder we have so much against this idea of rebuking...we have watered it down to the point of noexistencee. If someone consistently behaves in way that is not above reproach, does not demonstrate that we are set-apart IN CHRIST, or simply doesn't glorify God, why are we so afraid to "expose or find fault with those actions?" We are in a postmodern society, where we must always build up people, but we forget we are to build up the CHRIST in people, not our own natures. To build up Christ is to exhort, admonish, and dare I use the word...rebuke.
Still, we are afraid to exercise what the Bible commands. Why? I believe it is because we do not want to be held to the same standards we would be holding others to. That is a pathetic reality and mind-set. Isn't our entire aim to be holy as Christ is holy? But we surround ourselves with "the songs of fools," and the praises of those as complacent as ourselves. What comfort it is to look acrosss the table and know your brother is in the same sin you are...oh but what false comfort it is! Beloved, there will be no such comfort when we face our Creator on judgment day and He asks, "why did you not build up the Christ in those around you? why did you not grant those around you permission to do the same?"
Remember to be balanced in all ways though. Abide by 2 Corinthians 13:5, "Examine yourselves." Allow your own reflection to be a correction as well. And as Piper and Job suggest, make sure those that rebuke you are reliable, and their rebuking or correction is not based on rumors or without knowledge, for this is one "dark counsel" and not the stuff of self-assessment.
So how do you react when you are corrected or confronted? A red-flag of pride and self arrogance is when we become bitter, angry and unwilling to even consider the possibility that we have fallen short. I continue to grow in this area, and have much progress to attain, but I know that I desire to adhere to the warning in Revlelations of the lethargic living and the lack of true commitment to see Christ's bride changed.

as always, your comments are welcome~
Your sister, Kate

According to the Bible

I am currently reading What's the Difference: Manhood and Womanhood Defined According to the Bible by John Piper. It is a great breakdown of the Biblical principles of being man and women...and knowing that God made us uniquely and wonderfully different for a purpose. Why do we continue to strive to lesson the differences instead of embracing them and glorifying God by living as He intended us to?
I wanted to post the definitions created by Piper of who we are at the basis of our creation:
AT THE HEART OF MATURE MASCULINITY IS A SENSE OF BENEVOLENT RESPONSIBILITY TO LEAD, PROVIDE FOR AND PROTECT WOMEN IN WAYS APPROPRIATE TO A MAN'S DIFFERING RELATIONSHIPS.

AT THE HEART OF MATURE FEMININITY IS A FREEING DISPOSITION TO AFFIRM, RECEIVE AND NURTURE STRENGTH AND LEADERSHIP FROM WORTHY MEN IN WAYS APPROPRIATE TO A WOMAN'S DIFFERING RELATIONSHIPS.

There is a lot to these definitions that I could expound upon, but as I continue to read the book, I am sure Piper will cause me think and rethink my initial thoughts. How beautiful it is to realize and to speak to those with feminist ideals that the TRUE way a man should treat a women is with benevolence in leading, providing for and protecting, not belittling or controlling. It is our human imperfection that has severely distorted the perfection in men leading so that women submitting is really what is best for both...where we are who God created us to be.
I am challenged by the "appropriate to differing relationships". In the past I have not always succeeded in wisely realizing who to offer affirmation to and who to receive leadership from. Not all Christian men are worthy of this high responsibility. The way I will someday encourage and nurture my husband is to look dramatically different to how I encourage my brothers in Christ. My question to you is what about this challenges the way you think and live? Beloved, what about these definitions (Biblical at that!) affirms they way you live?

another lesson the Lord is giving me is the PRIVILEGE it is to love others. So often we think about how wonderful it is to BE loved, but do we realize the gift we have, the opportunity in giving Christ's love and nurturing the heart of those around us? May the love of Christ in me cease to be stifled by the selfishness of my flesh.

Seeking Him in all, Glory to the King,
kate

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand 'til
He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

This is my favorite Hymn. It captures the glory and power of Christ. I want to walk through some of the lyrics and what He has done in my life as of late.
He really is solid ground, through fiercest drought and storm. I have gone through months of severe storms but He has been my solid ground, He has put my feet on firm places...His truth, His will, His way, His word, His Son, His grace and His power to change me, to lift me from the mire, and to hold me close.
Just as He calmed the raging sea He has calms my striving; my fears have been stilled through the peace He gives. I am finally resting in Him, through His grace alone. How are you currently striving? Are you trying to please others? " For am I now seeking approval of man or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." (Gal. 1:10). Are you attempting to earn His love and grace? Or are you simply resting in the sovereignty of God? We often make things complex when the God of all is fully in control. No matter what you are going through, turn into Him...for what man or the enemy means for evil, God intends to use for good! As Piper says, "we rejoice BECAUSE of our sufferings, not IN SPITE of them... because we know what they produce... endurance, faith, character...I am so glad we don't just have a God who defeats the enemy, but turns the enemy into a servant of Gods sovereignty and perfection"
Let us STAND upon Him. What does this mean? To be rooted, built upon, established and ingrained in Who He is and Who you are in and through Him. May we be saturated in His word, His presence, His Holy magnificence.
"In the death of Christ, I live." Do I grasp this? Not really. But there are moments the He does give me a glipse of the power, of the true gift, of the SAVING grace that I have life in. No matter what we are going through, we can REJOICE that we live through Christ's death.
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me. AMEN! How amazing is that? I am no longer in bondage, in the cage of sin. But oh beloved, how often do we believe the schemes of man and the enemy, that we know nothing but the bars of a prison cell in sin's curse. He has unlocked the door beloved! Walk out and be free in Christ. It is for FREEDOM that Christ has set us FREE, so do not again LET yourself be captive. (Galatians 5:1).
I have a prayer request for any brothers and sisters who do read this...please pray that I would have no "guilt in life." As God had taken me through healing, satan is attempting to crush my spirit with condemnation that I would forget that I am daily NEW in Christ. Also, perhaps "fear in death", is talking not only about bodily death but also the dying of our flesh. May we be courageous enough to pray that our pride and flesh would cease to go on living, but only that of which is Christ Jesus will grow. May we be pruned by the Faithful Gardener, our God, (John 15).
I ask beloved, what part of this hymn challenges you most and penetrates you? I ask that we would all learn to meditate upon His words day and night.
I must decrease, so He may Increase,
Kate