Receive correction

         Quotations from the writings of Ellen G. White with the phrase . . .

                r e c e i v e    C O r R e c t I o n        (  4  RELATED  PHRASES )                      

                       The  phrase  'Receive correction'  appears  18  times in the published writings of EGW                See page on Original site                                                          Related phrase:   refuse to receive correction  ( below )  -  work of correction  (  )

I have been shown that the greatest reason why the people of God are now found in this state of spiritual blindness is that they will not receive correction.  Many have despised the reproofs and warnings given them. The True Witness condemns the lukewarm condition of the people of God, which gives Satan great power over them in this waiting, watching time. The selfish, the proud, and the lovers of sin are ever assailed with doubts. Satan has ability to suggest doubts and to devise objections to the pointed testimony that God sends, and many think it a virtue, a mark of intelligence in them, to be unbelieving and to question and quibble. Those who desire to doubt will have plenty of room. God does not propose to remove all occasion for unbelief.  He gives evidence, which must be carefully investigated with a humble mind and a teachable spirit, and all should decide from the weight of evidence. { 3T 255.1}  Read entire chapter  {also RH September 16, 1873, par. 10 }  { 1TT 329.3} 

 

 
To those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit, Christ’s lessons appear complete in their harmony with His mission of love. Those who are partakers of the divine nature, will be melted into tenderness when the Spirit sends conviction of sin. They will see the great work that must be done for the soul before it is prepared to dwell in the presence of God. They will not be too self-sufficient to receive correction. And in their dealing with one another, they will manifest the pitying tenderness which Christ revealed in His words and works. { ST May 15, 1901, par. 9 }

 

 
It was pride of heart which led these brethren to manifest so much fear lest others should know that they had been corrected. If they had humbly confessed their wrongs to the church, they would have acted out the faith they professed to have in the visions, and the church would have been strengthened to receive correction and confess their faults. These teachers stood in the way of the flock. They set them a wrong example, and the church have looked to them, and when reproved have inquired: “Why have not these ministers been reproved, when we are following their teachings?” A door has thus been opened for Satan to tempt them as to the truthfulness of the visions. { 1T 233.2} 
 
Light has been plainly given that those who minister in our schools, teaching the word of God, explaining the Scriptures, educating the students in the things of God, should be supported by the tithe money. This instruction was given long ago, and more recently it has been repeated again and again. Only a few months ago it was plainly defined. Will my brethren use that which has been given them by the Lord just as it is, or will they mislead minds by following their own human devising, making it still harder for those who have been reproved by the Lord, when it is hard enough for them to receive correction?  { SpM 151.4 } 

 

                                           willing  to  receive  correction                                                  
I was pointed back and shown the cautions, warnings and reproofs, given for the benefit of Bro. Aldrich, through a previous vision. Yet he did not lay these things to heart, and move fearfully and tremblingly before God. His failing to confess his wrongs when he has erred, has been an injury to him, and given Satan great advantage of him. He has not put up the bars behind him, and Satan has had access to him, and blinded his eyes and perverted his judgment. Gently has the Lord warned, gently admonished, but a change has not been effected. Then the Lord laid the burden upon my husband, and matters were brought before Bro. Aldrich, unveiled, that if he had been deceived he could be deceived no longer. The right views were taken of his course; yet he was very unreconciled to this. His stubborn will was cherished, and the light was rejected. He refused to see his mistakes and errors, and Satan, I saw, was gaining greater power over his mind. As the last resort the Lord gave the reproof, through vision, which is here given, to correct the errors of Bro. Aldrich, because all other means had failed to accomplish the design of God. Bro. Aldrich would not yield to the judgment of any living man. He has confidence in his ability, and in his judgment. Bro. Aldrich is not a man that is ready to confess an error. His proud spirit forbids him to yield to evidence presented which shows him in error. Had the first gentle admonition of error been regarded, and Bro. Aldrich reformed, there would have been no necessity of the close remarks and plain laying out before Bro. Aldrich by Bro. White of his errors, and the simple facts as they were, in the presence of his brethren. His proud spirit rose up against this, and then the Lord tests him a little closer, and shows Bro. Aldrich himself as he views him. If he rejects this, and is not thoroughly reformed, darkness will cover him, and he will be fettered by the enemy. The rejection of light leaves men captives, bound by Satan. Never would Bro. Aldrich have been left to move so blindly had he been willing to receive correction. He has taken responsibilities which his position does not warrant. { PH015 1.2 } 
 
He thus acknowledges, before his people and chief men, that this is the punishment God has brought upon him because of his sin, which has given the enemies of the Lord occasion to blaspheme; that the enraged Benjamite might be accomplishing his part of the punishment predicted, and that if he bore these things with humility, the Lord would lessen his affliction, and turn the curse of Shimei into a blessing. David does not manifest the spirit of an unconverted man. He shows that he has had an experience in the things of God. He manifests a disposition to receive correction from God, and, in confidence turns to him as his only trust. God rewards David’s humble trust in him, by defeating the counsel of Ahithophel, and preserving his life. { 1SP 383.1 } 
2 Samuel 2:10, 11. David Accepted Humiliation as Necessary—[2 Samuel 16:10, 11 quoted.] He [David] thus acknowledges, before his people and chief men, that this is the punishment God has brought upon him because of his sin, which has given the enemies of the Lord occasion to blaspheme; that the enraged Benjamite might be accomplishing his part of the punishment predicted, and that if he bore these things with humility, the Lord would lessen his affliction, and turn the curse of Shimei into a blessing. David does not manifest the spirit of an unconverted man. He shows that he has had an experience in the things of God. He manifests a disposition to receive correction from God, and, in confidence turns to Him as his only trust. God rewards David’s humble trust in Him, by defeating the counsel of Ahithophel, and preserving his life ( The Spirit of Prophecy 1:383). { 2BC 1024.3 } 

 

                                                    refuse  to  receive  correction                                                                    

   Related phrase:   refused to receive correction  ( below )
There is danger now of men’s losing sight of the important truths applicable for this period of time, and seeking for those things that are new and strange and entrancing. Many, if reproved by the Spirit of God through His appointed agencies, refuse to receive correction, and a root of bitterness is planted in their hearts against the Lord’s servants who carry heavy, disagreeable burdens. There are men who teach the truth, but who are not perfecting their ways before God, who are trying to conceal their defections and encourage an estrangement from God. They have not the moral courage to do the things that it is for their special benefit to do. They see no necessity for reform, and so they reject the words of the Lord and hate him who reproveth at the gate. { 1888 1646.1 } { SpTA11 5.3 } 

 

 
There is danger now of men’s losing sight of the important truths applicable for this period of time, and seeking for those things that are new and strange and entrancing. Many, if reproved by the Spirit of God through His appointed agencies, refuse to receive correction, and a root of bitterness is planted in their hearts against the Lord’s servants who carry heavy, disagreeable burdens. There are men who teach the truth, but who are not perfecting their ways before God, who are trying to conceal their defections and encourage an estrangement from God. They have not the moral courage to do the things that it is for their special benefit to do. They see no necessity for reform, and so they reject the words of the Lord and hate him who reproveth at the gate. { TM 408.1} 

 

 
"Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it. And though they say, The Lord liveth; surely they swear falsely. O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return. Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the Lord, nor the judgment of their God.... Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? ... Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it? But this people hath a revolting and rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.” { RH June 12, 1894, par. 1 }
“Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it. And though they say, The Lord liveth; surely they swear falsely. O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction; they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return. Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish; for they know not the way of the Lord, nor the judgment of their God. I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the Lord, and the judgment of their God; but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.... Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not; fear ye not me? saith the Lord; will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it; and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it? ... The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so; and what will ye do in the end thereof?” “If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous [those who respect and honor the law of God, the foundation of all government in heaven and in earth], and condemn the wicked.” { RH October 1, 1895, par. 8 }

 

When in Healdsburg the Lord wrought upon me mightily; I could not rest, and I asked the Lord to give me strength to meet my brethren again in General Conference, and I would set these things plainly before them. I would not shun to declare to them the whole counsel of God. While you have been allowing your minds to be diverted from the very work that God would have you do, and have been doing that which He has not called you to do, Satan has exulted, and has carried on his work with all diligence. You have neglected the testimonies that the Lord in mercy sent to incline your feet in the right path. Some of you have utterly refused these words of warning. You have been strong in your own ideas, set in your own ways, and you would not heed reproof or receive correction. The powers of darkness were mustering their forces. Satan was stirring men with a power from beneath that he might outgeneral the armies of Israel and take the field. We have lost much time and many precious opportunities, and Satan has had things his own way. { 1SAT 81.1 } { 1888 504.1 } 
 
The Hebrews were not willing to submit to the Lord’s directions and restrictions. They were unwilling to receive correction. This was the secret of their complaints against Moses. All through the history of the church, God’s servants have had to meet the same spirit. { BOE 198.5 } 

 

 

 

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Correction Refuse to be Corrected