A part of the Christian life that is basic and foundational is obedience and receiving correction. These are areas that are difficult for the new Christian as well as the older Christian to put into practice in our every day lives.
One reason people have difficulty with obedience is because suffering is part of this process. People do not like to suffer therefore they avoid obeying God in every area of their lives. They pick and choose what they will be obedient to. However, we are not called to obey some things, but we are called to the obedience of the faith. Romans 1:5, "By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:" (See also Romans 16:26).
If we do not learn to practice obedience to the faith it will bring consequences. Disobedience is sin. If a man knows the right thing to do and does not do it then it is sin in his life. James 4:17, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."
There are always consequences for disobedience and also consequences for obedience. Romans 5:19, "For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." We see clearly here in these verses that our disobedience and obedience does not only affect ourselves but everyone around us as well. We are responsible not only for ourselves but for others. We are called to be our brothers' keeper, in other words.
When we allow disobedience in our lives it leads to slavery to the power of sin and also will allow demons to influence and control your life. We must be set free from self, from sin, from the world system, from Satan, and from death. Freedom will increase as we obey God's word and put it into practice in our every day lives. If we fail to practice obedience every day then the darkness will creep back into us. It will drain your spiritual life. It will take away your passion and zeal for God. It will leave you empty and confused. Romans 6:16, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"
In order to be successful in obeying God we must deal with our thoughts that contradict God's word. We have thoughts, ideas, or opinions which may contradict the truth that is in Jesus. We must remove these false ideas and corrupt belief systems in our mind. Paul said we are to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. We must capture every thought and make it obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"
Suffering is part of obedience. People do not look forward to suffering. We avoid suffering as much as possible. But in order to practice a life of obedience we must accept the reality that suffering is part of this process. We see this in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us plainly that he learned obedience by the things which he suffered. What a great mystery this statement is about the Son of God, Jesus Christ, that he learned obedience through suffering! But it clearly shows us that if we will obey God then we must endure suffering. We are no better than Jesus. Hebrews 5:8, "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered".
Closely related to obedience is learning to receive correction. When we try to obey God's word we sometimes will miss the mark. We need to be corrected. There are areas of our soul that are hidden and cannot be exposed to the light unless we are corrected. If you will not receive correction then your soul will have a lot of darkness in it, and that darkness is where evil spirits will hide.
This is why we should be happy when God corrects us. He is taking an interest in us being healed and made whole and complete. One of the primary ways that our soul is healed and made whole is by exposing the darkness inside of us through correction. Why should we be happy when we are corrected? Because God is helping us to overcome the darkness within us. Job 5:17, "Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty". Do not despise God's work of correction in your life. He is correcting you because he loves you and wants to set you free.
There is a real temptation to despise the correction of the Lord. There is a tendency to get tired of being corrected. Proverbs 3:11, "My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction". How do we despise correction? By rebelling against the people God puts into our life. This could be your parents, this could be your employer, this could be a Christian leader in the church. There are Christians who rebel against authority in their lives because they do not want any correction. They already believe that they know what is best for themselves and do not need any help.
No matter how long you have been saved you will always need help from others. You will need to always humble yourself and submit to the authority God places in your life.
Another reason God corrects us is because it acts like a pruning knife to remove what is not needed. It stills hurts when God prunes us. The Lord will visit us through trouble and tribulation in our lives. It is the Lord's correction. It is for the purpose of inspiring us to humble ourselves and to seek the Lord in prayer. Isaiah 26:16, "LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them."
It is easy to forget these basic lessons when we are going through hard times. We are encouraged not to forget that God is correcting us for our good. Hebrews 12:5, "And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him". Hebrews 12:7, "If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he who the father chasteneth not?". Hebrews 12:11, "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."
The result of obedience and accepting correction will be a life that yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness. Our lives will bear good fruit that will be a blessing to others and will be pleasing unto the Lord. Amen.
Mike Kines
July 19, 2025