“And your abominations will be in your midst. Then you shall know that I am the Lord who strikes.” – Ezekiel 7:9b

 

REFERENCE:

Ezekiel 7:7-9

 

As a believer, you are a lively stone used by God to build a spiritual temple. However, the toll of sin on us stains our conscience, leads us into error, and fills our minds with wicked thoughts. For this reason, God brings out His chisel and sandpaper to chisel, reshape, and mold us into better-shaped, useful lively stones to build on Christ, the Chief Cornerstone.

Makkeh means to Strike, Wound, Smite, Chasten, or Touch (God ‘touched’ the socket of Jacob’s hip). He ‘strikes’ at (pricks) your conscience, not allowing sin to sit pretty in your life or lead you astray into a dangerous place. He drives you to your knees in repentance because He delights that you grow in Christ. That is why your heart can be troubled all night over a matter until you do the right thing. Jehovah Makkeh convicts us by His word when in error, causing us to hear His voice, “This is the way walk you in it.” If we do not repent, He punishes or smites us for our sins.

God sometimes allows us to pass through tough times to shape and mold us and uses pain to get the attention of one in rebellion towards Him. He ‘struck’ Saul down from his horse on the road to Damascus, and he became blind. He ‘strikes’ out of love and never to crush. Jehovah Makkeh often ‘strikes’ us with His Rod of Correction – His word (in preaching, personal bible study, the Spirit’s conviction, or a fellow believer’s confrontation). When we fail to amend, satan steps in to afflict us because of our obstinacy.

We need rebuke once in a while; God has used different experiences in your past to shape you into a better and purposeful person: corrections, rebukes, painful situations, a troublesome landlord, unfriendly teachers, strict parents, mean bosses, no-nonsense preachers, and shrewd business associates. How you respond to God’s corrections makes all the difference. A broken spirit and a contrite heart, He will not despise. Be like wet clay in the hands of the Potter so that when God smites you, you will not break beyond repair but be changed and remolded.

TODAY’S THOUGHT:

Hebrews 12:9

ADDITIONAL STUDY

Hebrews 12:5-11, Proverbs 29:1 & Psalms 141:5

REFLECTION

Jehovah Makkeh is the God who qualifies us as sons. It is the son whom the Father loves that He chastises; else, they are not sons. Jesus learned obedience through the things He suffered, after which He became the Author of our salvation. When Jacob met with Jehovah Makkeh, he became Israel; when Saul encountered Jehovah Makkeh, he became Apostle Paul. May your encounter with Him today, make you your best version yet, in Jesus’ name.

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