THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION
“in the fight with the Babylonians: ‘They will be filled with the dead bodies of the people I will slay in my anger and wrath. I will hide my face from this city because of all its wickedness. “ ‘Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before. I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me.” Jeremiah 33:5-8 NIV
The prophecy in Jeremiah 33 is one of restoration, but notice that God never bypasses the process of chastening His children while purging evil from their midst. In our day, many people do not like receiving correction. Granted, there are times when the motive behind correction is not pure. But when counsel comes from spiritual authority, trusted friends, or family who love God and you, it should be humbly received and carefully considered.
In our theme scripture, the Lord begins with chastisement but makes clear His ultimate goal: to restore. This is the pattern all godly correction should mirror. Any correction that does not aim to restore is not of God and should never be inflicted upon anyone.
God may choose to speak to you directly, or through others He places in your life to point you in the right direction.
Let your heart remain both willing and ready to accept His correction. And remember Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 2:7 concerning a brother who has fallen but repents: “forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.”
Praise God.
Prayer: Father, I thank You for the mercy that always seeks to restore me, even when I stray. Thank You for the gift of Your correction, which purifies, heals, and draws me closer to You. Teach me to embrace discipline with humility and to extend the same grace of restoration to others. May my words and actions reflect Your heart—to forgive, to comfort, and to rebuild. Let my life testify of Your reconciling love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
CI.
RELATED RESOURCES
• Proverbs 3:11
• 2 Corinthians 5:18
• James 5:19
