Exodus 32:21-24 (ESV)
And Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you that you have brought such a great sin upon them?” And Aaron said, “Let not the anger of my lord burn hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. For they said to me, ‘Make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ So I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”
When confronted by someone about a mistake you made, how do you respond? Aaron deflected and denied that he actually made the golden calf. He stated it was the people who came to him. That was lie #1. He told them to bring the jewelry. He said he just tossed the jewelry in the fire and it came out a call. That was lie #2. He used a graving tool to craft it (Exodus 32:4). He had trouble taking correction. Here are 31 verses to pray over regarding taking correction from another.
1.
Hebrews 12:5 (ESV)
And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
Facing correction as a son is proof of our relationship with the Father.
2.
Hebrews 12:7 (ESV)
It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
Correction from God confirms connection with God!
3.
Hebrews 12:8 (ESV)
If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
A life with no correction by God is a life separate from God.
4.
Hebrews 12:11 (ESV)
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
When we allow discipline to train us we eventually have fruit to sustain us.
5.
Proverbs 10:17 (ESV)
Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life,
but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.
When we reject correction we lead others with us into our deception.
6.
Proverbs 3:11-12 (ESV)
My son, do not despise the LORD'S discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
for the LORD reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights.
This repeats the refrain that correction is a proof of God’s love for us.
7.
Proverbs 6:23 (ESV)
For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,
and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,
Accepting correction as a way of life leads to vision and clarity for life.
8.
Proverbs 15:5 (ESV)
A fool despises his father's instruction,
but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
How we respond to correction from God determines our prudence for life.
9.
Proverbs 15:12 (ESV)
A scoffer does not like to be reproved;
he will not go to the wise.
Those who scoff at wisdom will not listen to the reproof of wisdom.
10.
Proverbs 1:23 (ESV)
If you turn at my reproof,
behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;
I will make my words known to you.
Taking correction always includes turning in a new direction.
11.
Psalms 141:5 (ESV)
Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;
let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head;
let my head not refuse it.
Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
Correction in our lives is like refreshment on our souls.
12.
Proverbs 12:1 (ESV)
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates reproof is stupid.
How we take correction is a measurement of our spiritual condition.
13.
Proverbs 15:32 (ESV)
Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.
Humility is the pathway that helps us take correction, which is a boulevard for obtaining wisdom.
14.
Proverbs 1:25-26 (ESV)
because you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,
I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when terror strikes you,
Once we reject God’s correction we also lose out on His future compassion.
15.
Proverbs 1:29-31 (ESV)
Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the LORD,
would have none of my counsel
and despised all my reproof,
therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
and have their fill of their own devices.
Those who not take God’s correction will only eat the fruit of their own deception.
16.
Proverbs 5:12-14 (ESV)
and you say, “How I hated discipline,
and my heart despised reproof!
I did not listen to the voice of my teachers
or incline my ear to my instructors.
I am at the brink of utter ruin
in the assembled congregation.”
We are on the brink of utter ruin when we fail to listen to what are teachers are sayin.
17.
Proverbs 13:18 (ESV)
Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction,
but whoever heeds reproof is honored.
Rejection of instruction doesn’t just leave you in physical poverty, it also bankrupts your spiritual glory.
18.
Proverbs 15:10 (ESV)
There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
whoever hates reproof will die.
The severity of our Lord’s correction is directly proportional to the swerving in our life’s direction.
19.
Proverbs 15:31 (ESV)
The ear that listens to life-giving reproof
will dwell among the wise.
Those who listen to correction will dwell with wisdom.
20.
Proverbs 27:5 (ESV)
Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.
If you love someone you say something.
21.
Proverbs 29:1 (ESV)
He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck,
will suddenly be broken beyond healing.
Those who stiffen themselves toward correction will soon be broken beyond rehabilitation.
22.
Proverbs 29:15 (ESV)
The rod and reproof give wisdom,
but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
When we fail to correct our children, our children will bring shame to us.
23.
Ephesians 6:4 (ESV)
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Instructing children should not be provoking to children.
24.
2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training (discipline) in righteousness,
God’s words is the perfect curriculum for correction.
25.
Job 37:10-13 (ESV)
By the breath of God ice is given,
and the broad waters are frozen fast.
He loads the thick cloud with moisture;
the clouds scatter his lightning.
They turn around and around by his guidance,
to accomplish all that he commands them
on the face of the habitable world.
Whether for correction or for his land
or for love, he causes it to happen.
God can use His spiritual rod to correct us, or love us by a physical snowstorm.
26.
Jeremiah 2:29-30 (ESV)
“Why do you contend with me?
You have all transgressed against me,
declares the LORD.
In vain have I struck your children;
they took no correction;
your own sword devoured your prophets
like a ravening lion.
When we fail to take correction we contend against God.
27.
Job 5:17 (ESV)
“Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves;
therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty.
Part of the blessings from God is the discipline from God.
28.
Psalms 38:1 (ESV)
O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger,
nor discipline me in your wrath!
Without God’s mercy in His correction of us, we would be unable to withstand His wrath toward us. Jesus is our mercy and took our wrath.
29.
Proverbs 9:7-8 (ESV)
Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
You know the character of a person by how they receive correction.
30.
Proverbs 19:25 (ESV)
Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence;
reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
Sometimes when you correct a person (a scoffer) they won’t listen, but the one next to them (a simple one) will understand.
31.
Proverbs 25:12 (ESV)
Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold
is a wise reprover to a listening ear.
Proverbs 28:23 (ESV)
Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
than he who flatters with his tongue.
Correction done right produces a beautiful sight.
