My friends, we are being disciplined right now. It is light, momentary, and for those who love God and are called according to His purposes, it is meant for their good. Will we learn from it? Will we be thankful for it? Will we choose to make the best use of our time, knowing the days are evil, or will we squander it all away with worry and strife?

The Psalm writer wrote:  Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. As we come before a Holy God and hear his word, may we have eyes open to the wonderful and fearful things from his law. May it move us to repent and seek forgiveness, fear disobedience, and live in light of the grace we have received.   This is the word of God. It is eternally true and applicable for all of life.

Proverbs 15:1-10 A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, But the mouth of fools spouts folly. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Watching the evil and the good. A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit. A fool rejects his father’s discipline, But he who regards reproof is sensible. Great wealth is in the house of the righteous, But trouble is in the income of the wicked. The lips of the wise spread knowledge, But the hearts of fools are not so. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But He loves one who pursues righteousness. Grievous punishment is for him who forsakes the way; He who hates reproof will die.

There were times as a small child that my father disciplined me through the application of a spanking. Though I did not realize it at the time, the correction was meant for my good. I can remember attempting to talk my way out of the spanking “please daddy, don’t spank me, it will hurt”. Other times, anticipating the blow, I may shift my rear end this way or that or tense up in an attempt to lessen its effect. Have you ever been tasked with picking out your own switch? I have heard of this practice and been told that you better never come back with a small twig to receive your spanking.

Sometimes, because earthly fathers are sinful men, discipline is applied in such a way that it winds up provoking the child to anger, and resentment. Fathers sometimes appear hypocritical, disciplining their children for laziness, or disobedience, or the disrespect of their mother, while having learned these things from their father.

[Editor’s note: This article is incomplete. The source for this document was originally published on The Sword and the Blog —however, the link (URL) to the original article is unavailable and has been removed.]