Discipline and Reproof

“My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” (Proverbs 3:11-12 ESV)

So this morning I was having a difficult time with my oldest son and his behavior toward everyone in the house. And during that time I had to discipline him as an attempt to get him to behave. And lately whenever he is disciplined he responds with “You hate me!, or You don’t love me!” And for the longest time I have been telling him the reason we discipline him is because we care about him. We sat down and looked at what the Bible had to tell us about God’s discipline.

Through our study we read a little bit more than half a dozen verses on discipline and a constant theme repeated itself throughout the study, discipline dealing with love. While my son is only seven years old we read these verses and discussed what each of them had to say. After reviewing God’s word I told him again and pointed out that even though he cannot see it when daddy messes up God disciplines me also.

One passage that seemed to be insightful for him was in Hebrews, “For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:10-11 ESV) While the discipline of the Lord may not include a physical touch (though sometimes it may) he gets our attention and makes us realize that we have done something wrong through conviction of the Holy Spirit. He may also keep good things from us that we assumed we were going to receive, because we have done something we should not have. This does not mean that we pay for our own sins because that is what Christ has done for us on the cross. It does mean however that we live in a physical dimension that is governed by laws (like inertia, gravity, & etc) that were created by God.

Remember that because one Israelite did not do as was told to the people the whole nation lost what should have been and easy battle against Ai. He will correct you either by conviction or by some other means, it is not fun but we grow in righteousness.

I thank the Lord for the time this morning to show my son God’s love for the both of us through discipline. May you grow in the knowledge and favor of Jesus, and not despise his discipline.

Live Long, Pray Hard, Die Well!