“For the Lord disciplines those he loves and chastises every son whom he receives” - Hebrews 12:6 (ESV)

Imagine you are tasked to talk to your boss that he erred. He believes he did right and is even puffing about his latest act. Your job is to correct him that not only did he overlook something but he is not perfect either. The intention is not so much to shame the boss but rather to save him from committing an even worse mistake.

Would you take up that offer?

There was such a man who had to take on such an unpleasant job. After King David had taken the wife of a soldier of his called Uriah and had him killed, the Lord wasn’t pleased at all. The prophet Nathan was therefore sent to admonish him (2 Samuel 12). What is interesting is that not only did Nathan bring to David the unpleasant news of his sin but also its consequences. “Now therefore the sword will never depart from your house because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own” (2 Sam 10).

Here we learn that when we do sin the Lord will not spare us of being admonished. He does it in a number of ways; sometimes through a rebuke as here or circumstances that wake us up.

But in all the Lord does so because he loves us! And like David once the error becomes obvious let us not shift in denials. We should repent and hear what the Lord is telling us. “Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Samuel 12:13).

Prayer for today: Lord Father in heaven, today I pray that where I have erred I may be open to your rebuke because you love me.