Pam Padgett ... teacher
Proverbs 12:1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.
Reproof (correction, chastening, rebuke) shows us we are going a
wrong way and that we need to make adjustments to align ourselves with
the reproof. We may be reproved as we're reading the Bible and the Holy
Spirit opens our eyes to a scripture, showing us changes we need to
make in our lives to conform to that scripture. The reproof may be
delivered by another person as led by the Holy Spirit. Reproofs allow
us to be changed and purified, having those things which are not right in the sight
of God removed from us, and the things of God to become rooted in our hearts.
Reproofs are in the path of those who seek life ... For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: (Proverbs 6:23 )
If we hate reproof, resisting and resenting it, rather than humbly
submitting ourselves to the correction and changing our way
accordingly, our minds and ways are not renewed to the ways of God and we are like brutes ...
brute
- like an animal, specifically, brutal, cruel, gross, sensual, stupid
- heavy, dull, irrational
- having no conscience or feelings
Rather than being as brutes, God has called us to be conformed to the
image of Christ. Each one of us called by God to be His children are
chastened. If we are not chastened, then God is not dealing with us as
His sons, but as bastards ...
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: 6 For whom the Lord
loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye
endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is
he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement,
whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9
Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we
gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the
Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened
us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be
partakers of his holiness. 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.
Chastening brings forth the fruit of righteousness in those who humbly
submit to the correction.