“And your abominations will be in your midst. Then you shall know that I am the Lord who strikes.” – Ezekiel 7:9b
REFERENCE:
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:
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.
Amen! Like King David; Lord I rather fall into your hands for Your mercy is great than into the hands of man.
True, Aisha. Powerful insight.
🙏🏽
Just as the trimming and pruning of flowers helps it grow more beautifully, so the chastening of my Father.
Help me Lord to submit myself humbly to your corrections.
Amen.
Wow! Nice illustration. May we indeed be made better by God’s corrections.
Amen
“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.”
This is profound !!!
The Potter knows how to mold you into a beautiful vessel. Let Him.
A broken spirit and a contrite heart, God will not despise. Glory!!!!
Dear Lord, your correction is always from a place of love and best intentions for me so I TRUST YOU!!!.🙌
Yes, indeed. May your better version emerge indeed!
He whom the Lord loves, he chastens🙏
Yes, He does.
God help me understand the reason for every pain or training you take me through in life. Let it produce a better person for your Kingdom.
This is the prayer to pray! I say AMEN!
Amen.
Lord mold and shape me to be a better person, Because your thought for me are of good and not of evil.
Yes, indeed. Amen.
Amen! Thank you Lord for continously molding me.
Amen.
Every chastisement I receive from God is always for my benefit. At the time I may not like it, but in the long run, it builds me up.
You can say that again. 👍🏾
Amen!
I remain yielded Lord!
Yes!
Lord, help me see beyond every pain, to understand that it is all working to reveal a better version of myself.