| What Don't You Want to Hear from Jesus? - article by Joel Hempel
Can you imagine what Martha felt like when she heard from Jesus, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary, Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her”? Or what about when Jesus rebuked Peter: “Get behind me, Satan! You are not setting your mind on the things of God but on the things of man”?
Most of us don’t like to be corrected. It was bad enough when we misbehaved as kids, and our parents or teachers had to discipline us. Back in the seventh grade, when there was widespread support for corporal punishment, I must have said something that greatly offended the teacher. Mr. G. made a beeline to my desk, grabbed my face, and squeezed my cheeks together with his fingers. By today’s standards, even those schools that support corporal punishment would find what Mr. G handed out inexcusable.
We can be confident that Jesus’ discipline of us is never out of control, and it is always motivated by love and measured by what he determines we need. If you have time, look at the stories about how Jesus lovingly confronted the woman at the well (John 4:16-18), the rich, young ruler (Mark 10:21), and doubting Thomas (John 20:27). Even with the Pharisees, he is not mean-spirited or seeking to get even. He uses calculated toughness to get their attention and cut through their defenses. We should expect nothing less from our God who cares about us.
What are you not dealing with in your life? What sinful behavior are you nursing? Who are you not forgiving, or to whom do you owe an apology? Jesus is not that friend who will only say nice things to you or is afraid of offending you. Our Lord is the truest of friends. If we refuse to live by his Word, expect to be chastised. He loves us and does not want us to continue down a path that leads to unnecessary pain.
In Hebrews 12, the author reminds us, “My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every child he receives.”
Seriously, how much do you like to suffer?
This is a good time to do an inventory of your life. Is any behavior, thinking, or corrupting emotion compromising your relationship with Jesus? If yes, is that the kind of stiff-arming of Jesus you want? This is what Jesus wants with us:
I have come to forgive you, complete you, fulfill your life, and create empowering intimacy (See John 3:16-17; 10:10; John 15:4-11; Philippians 4:12-13). | 
