Friday, May 30, 2014

Harvest of Righteousness



“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.
Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness
 and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
Heb. 12:11 (NIV)

People are strange. We want what is best for our children and yet some of us see others not allowing their children the experience of learning that something they have done is wrong.

In the Old Testament God called Moses to task when he hit the rock to have water come from it. God told him to talk to the rock. As a result, Moses was not allowed to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.

The writer of Hebrews tells us that, while we undergo our discipline, it probably will at least be embarrassing maybe even painful. The writer says we will gain wisdom and learn of God’s ways.

God instructed Moses to speak to a rock in order for water to come out. Instead, Moses struck the rock. The water gushed forth but God was displeased. Moses chose to do this the way God had told him before. God had a different plan and Moses miffed it. Because of Moses’ error, God forbade him from leading the Israelite children into the Promised Land.
Once, when our son was small, we were visiting Hubby’s sister and brother-in-law. Our boy fell asleep on her couch. When I went to pick him up, he awakened and knocked my glasses off my face.

I reacted by smacking him on the hand. My sister-in-law got indignant. You would have thought I had hurt him. “I never want to see you do that again. I don’t like seeing kids beat on.” A few weeks later, we were at a park getting ready to watch fireworks with my dad and stepmother. Hubby had told the story. My stepmother alluded to the incident. I felt like
I was never going to hear the end of it. She just laughed and said,” If they are old enough to do it and it’s wrong, they are old enough to learn not to do it.” I never had any problem with disciplining our child around my side of our family.

Yes, discipline can cause pain but can cause us to learn things that will help us to become stronger in our Christian lives, if we accept it and learn from it.

graphic:wwwstclarepdx.org

4 comments:

  1. Thanks for writing on topic of discipline. It has become very controversial in our culture. Yes, discipline is often painful. But, it's pain with a purpose. God took me to Hebrews 12:7 when I found myself in a painful situation: Endure hardship as discipline. I'm not perfect and will never be this side of heaven. Therefore, I am continually in need of my heavenly Father's loving discipline.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peggi: Thank you for your kind comments. We owe it to our children to teach them that somethings are wrong to do. Yes, you make a valid point that, as adults, we also need discipline from God.Have a blessed weekend.

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  2. Discipline is something we don't hear much of nowadays, but it is important, for our children and for us. Thanks for posting this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ANgela; Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are right. We grow through the process of discipline. Military people go through discipline in order to make them better soldiers, sailors, and airmen. Have a blessed weekend.

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