No one ever likes to be rebuked! And today people seem to be even more sensitive and resistive to being rebuked than ever before. That sensitivity begins when we are very young and as we get older it seems our resentment to rebuke grows with us. But “rebuke” is an important part of the development of our lives both morally, socially and spiritually.
For preachers God’s Word says we are to preach the word, reprove and REBUKE. Some of today’s “preachers” argue that they do not want to offend anyone by rebuking them about their sin. “Your Best Life Now” seems to be only reachable by plastic smiles and pleasant platitudes. But sometimes to have the best life God intends for us we need to be rebuked. I trust God’s word on this and I trust the examples of Jesus Christ. He taught and led his disciples to be men who turned the world upside down and preached the Gospel to every creature under the sun. For these men to develop into the calibre of men who could do the work of the Great Commission they at times needed to be rebuked. And we do too!
When Peter got his eyes off the plan of God and tried to insert his own will into things he was strongly rebuked by the Lord. When Peter or any of us cannot discern God’s plan and try to push our own way, a rebuke is needed. We must pay attention to God’s plan.
On another occasion when the disciples wanted to call fire down from heaven Jesus rebuked them. Perhaps all of us at times have felt like we wanted to do the same. But when we forget about the grace that is needed to work in a sinful, wicked world we need to be rebuked.
I know if we are not careful we can major on the negatives. All of us prefer not to be rebuked. But when needed I hope I will be sensitive to be rebuked through God’s Word, by the Holy Spirit and through the faithful preaching by a man of God who is still preaching the word, reproving, rebuking and exhorting with all longsuffering and doctrine.
