August 19 Daily Devotional

Happiness in Correction

Charles and Norma Ellis

Bible Reading:

Job 5:17-27

¹⁷Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
¹⁸For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.
¹⁹He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
²⁰In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword.
²¹Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
²²At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
²³For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.
²⁴And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.
²⁵Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth.
²⁶Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.
²⁷Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good.

Devotional:

When sorrow or distress comes, what is our reaction? Do we recognize that it may be the chastening of the Lord? Do we look up to God and say, 'Thank you, God, for loving me enough to correct me when I need correction'? Do our children realize that our correction of them is something that should make them happy? Do they realize that it is an evidence of our love wanting to help them in their growth and development? Often they do and that is why children sometimes even ask for correction! They want to feel the security of a love that cares enough to correct. There is a real security in being in strong hands that know what they are doing.

But do our children realize that our correction of them can help them to understand the meaning of God's chastening? We should be helping them to see here again the parallel between the earthly and the heavenly that is evident all through God's Word, the one reminding us of the other and helping us to understand it.

And again we see the unity of Scripture and the unchangeable character of our God. We meet this same teaching concerning the chastening of the Lord again and again, and in a strikingly similar way centuries later in Hebrews 12:5-12. Our God does not change, nor do the needs of His creatures. The message of Job is for us and for our children.

We are happy to have obtained permission to post as our current daily devotional Heirs Together of Life: Daily Bible Reading for Husbands and Wives, published by The Banner of Truth Trust. Don't be misled by the subtitle. As the book's "Preface" indicates (see below), although Heirs Together of Life is "especially prepared for couples,"the authors declare, "Since the basis for this guide is God's Word, we believe it would have value for any reader."

Charles and Norma Ellis are husband and wife and the authors not only of Heirs Together of Life (which was first published in 1980 and continues in print today), but also of Wells of Salvation (first published in 1985, and likewise still in print today). The latter contains a series of short studies covering the entire book of Isaiah, while the former contains a series of almost 200 short studies covering the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Both books by the Ellises can be ordered from the publisher, The Banner of Truth Trust. We trust that these daily Bible readings, posted daily on our site, will be helpful to you in your Christian walk before God. Whether married or not, all of us are members of families and members of the family of God.

Charles Ellis was educated at Wheaton College and Westminster Theological Seminary. Upon graduation from Westminster (where he earned not only a Th.B. but also a Th.M.), he was ordained to the ministry in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and pastored a number of OPC churches, including Immanuel OPC in West Collingswood, New Jersey; First OPC in Cincinnati, Ohio; Covenant OPC in East Orange, New Jersey; Knox OPC in Silver Spring, Maryland; and Lakeview OPC in Rockport, Maine. Less biographical information is available about his wife, but it is known that they served as parents of seven children. After retiring from the ministry, Charles Ellis went to be with the Lord in 2003, but he and his wife left us with a beautiful legacy in the two books they have given to the world, and we are proud to share the daily Bible readings from Heirs Together of Life here with you.