Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him
who lacks judgment. ~Proverbs 10:13
When I was a child, I talked like a child. I thought like a child. I reasoned like a child. When I grew up, I put childish ways behind me. ~1 Corinthians 13:11
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. ~Hebrews 12:11
Pity the person who is never taught to know better. Discipline can be such a blessing so that when we are grown, we can lay childish ways aside. Kathy and I are Star Trek fans, all the way back to the first series in the 60s! Today’s proverb reminded me of an episode from that first series called, “The Squire of Goth.”
When the episode begins, members of the crew are being snatched away into what looks like a 17th century setting. They are met by a man, named Trelane, who is obviously calling the shots, forcing the members of the crew to play along. Of course, the crew is bent on regaining their freedom, which makes the man, who is supposedly in power, more and more angry and threatening. Then, right at the point where you think all is lost for the crew, you hear these voices calling, “Trelane. Trelane! It’s time to come home now.” This powerful man is reduced to behaving as a disappointed child. He’s sorry that play time is over, and he has to go home for supper. It’s amazing to watch this man beg his parents to let him stay, “just a little longer?” Then, to have the parents apologize to the crew for their ill-behaved child.
I think that we all would be taken aback if we saw a grown-up throw the temper tantrum of a three-year-old. There are many childish behaviors that we just assume children will grow out of, or, they should anyway. That process is helped through the use of discipline, rod or not. Kevin Leman puts it this way, our job as parents is to raise responsible adults, not self-indulgent children. Our job is to help children become responsible and independent, for their sake, and to make them contributing members of society.
I don’t think anyone on this list would disagree with that statement above. My question is, why don’t we hold the same standards for ourselves as Christians, in the faith? Why don’t so many grow up in the faith, laying aside the childish ways of the newly born again for the more mature faith and relationship that God desires for us? When Paul says, “When I grew up, I put childish ways behind me,” he’s not just talking about his physical maturity, but his spiritual maturity as well.
It is the rod of discipline that enables wisdom to be found on the lips of the discerning. It is learning that prayer is more than presenting our grocery lists to God. It is learning to see God as more than a vending machine. It is learning to grieve our sins through confession and repentance and having our eyes opened wider and wider to how much we have to be thankful for. It is moving beyond awesome Bible stories that inspire us, on to wrestling with theological truths through much meditation on His Word.
We can fight the process, or ignore it, as many children do. We can look for a more indulgent authority, the way children from homes that provide discipline often wish that their parents would let them get away with stuff, like the parents of their friends do. We see the results of the indulgent and permissive kind of parenting in the physical world. Perhaps we are also seeing the result of that kind of thinking in the Christian world.
Referring to Andrew Brunson again, in a speech he gave at Wheaton College last year, he expressed concern about whether or not the American Christians will be able to endure the persecution that is sure to come. His concern is that we are not. We have a heard similar concern in China, believe it or not, where the older, more mature Christians are concerned that their children may find enduring persecution difficult because up until recently, the house church in China had been enjoying a time of peace. They are actually welcoming the trials of the newer Chinese government, because their prayer is that their children will grow up strong in the faith, able to endure suffering well for Christ’s sake. Those undergoing persecution in Eastern countries often say that they are praying for us in the West because they see how soft we’ve had it, how undisciplined we are, and they are concerned that we, in the West, will not be able to carry Christ’s banner through the hard times that will come.
Athletes are not forced to train. They want to train to prepare for a future engagement. The same could be said of musicians, who train for a performance, or doctors who train to do well at serving others. They do not take their commitments lightly or for granted. Christians should put themselves under the same discipline to be prepared for a future, yet unknown, that we will encounter. May each of us be able to say, along with Paul, “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:24) This was one of Billy Graham’s favorite verses. Consider how because Billy thought like that, God was able to use him mightily!
Prayer: Lord, I want to be motivated to maturity. I need to be spurred in to love and good works. In my weakness I need Your help, Your rod of discipline. I also need the encouragement and support of my brothers and sisters in the Lord. And I see from your word that, as hard as it is to accept it, I need some challenges and even adversity. Lead me in paths of righteousness, and help me to be a good and effective ambassador for Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name, amen.
Song: No One Ever Care for Me Like Jesus
When I was a child, I talked like a child. I thought like a child. I reasoned like a child. When I grew up, I put childish ways behind me. ~1 Corinthians 13:11
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. ~Hebrews 12:11
Pity the person who is never taught to know better. Discipline can be such a blessing so that when we are grown, we can lay childish ways aside. Kathy and I are Star Trek fans, all the way back to the first series in the 60s! Today’s proverb reminded me of an episode from that first series called, “The Squire of Goth.”
When the episode begins, members of the crew are being snatched away into what looks like a 17th century setting. They are met by a man, named Trelane, who is obviously calling the shots, forcing the members of the crew to play along. Of course, the crew is bent on regaining their freedom, which makes the man, who is supposedly in power, more and more angry and threatening. Then, right at the point where you think all is lost for the crew, you hear these voices calling, “Trelane. Trelane! It’s time to come home now.” This powerful man is reduced to behaving as a disappointed child. He’s sorry that play time is over, and he has to go home for supper. It’s amazing to watch this man beg his parents to let him stay, “just a little longer?” Then, to have the parents apologize to the crew for their ill-behaved child.
I think that we all would be taken aback if we saw a grown-up throw the temper tantrum of a three-year-old. There are many childish behaviors that we just assume children will grow out of, or, they should anyway. That process is helped through the use of discipline, rod or not. Kevin Leman puts it this way, our job as parents is to raise responsible adults, not self-indulgent children. Our job is to help children become responsible and independent, for their sake, and to make them contributing members of society.
I don’t think anyone on this list would disagree with that statement above. My question is, why don’t we hold the same standards for ourselves as Christians, in the faith? Why don’t so many grow up in the faith, laying aside the childish ways of the newly born again for the more mature faith and relationship that God desires for us? When Paul says, “When I grew up, I put childish ways behind me,” he’s not just talking about his physical maturity, but his spiritual maturity as well.
It is the rod of discipline that enables wisdom to be found on the lips of the discerning. It is learning that prayer is more than presenting our grocery lists to God. It is learning to see God as more than a vending machine. It is learning to grieve our sins through confession and repentance and having our eyes opened wider and wider to how much we have to be thankful for. It is moving beyond awesome Bible stories that inspire us, on to wrestling with theological truths through much meditation on His Word.
We can fight the process, or ignore it, as many children do. We can look for a more indulgent authority, the way children from homes that provide discipline often wish that their parents would let them get away with stuff, like the parents of their friends do. We see the results of the indulgent and permissive kind of parenting in the physical world. Perhaps we are also seeing the result of that kind of thinking in the Christian world.
Referring to Andrew Brunson again, in a speech he gave at Wheaton College last year, he expressed concern about whether or not the American Christians will be able to endure the persecution that is sure to come. His concern is that we are not. We have a heard similar concern in China, believe it or not, where the older, more mature Christians are concerned that their children may find enduring persecution difficult because up until recently, the house church in China had been enjoying a time of peace. They are actually welcoming the trials of the newer Chinese government, because their prayer is that their children will grow up strong in the faith, able to endure suffering well for Christ’s sake. Those undergoing persecution in Eastern countries often say that they are praying for us in the West because they see how soft we’ve had it, how undisciplined we are, and they are concerned that we, in the West, will not be able to carry Christ’s banner through the hard times that will come.
Athletes are not forced to train. They want to train to prepare for a future engagement. The same could be said of musicians, who train for a performance, or doctors who train to do well at serving others. They do not take their commitments lightly or for granted. Christians should put themselves under the same discipline to be prepared for a future, yet unknown, that we will encounter. May each of us be able to say, along with Paul, “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:24) This was one of Billy Graham’s favorite verses. Consider how because Billy thought like that, God was able to use him mightily!
Prayer: Lord, I want to be motivated to maturity. I need to be spurred in to love and good works. In my weakness I need Your help, Your rod of discipline. I also need the encouragement and support of my brothers and sisters in the Lord. And I see from your word that, as hard as it is to accept it, I need some challenges and even adversity. Lead me in paths of righteousness, and help me to be a good and effective ambassador for Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name, amen.
Song: No One Ever Care for Me Like Jesus
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