Proverbs 22:15. Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Growing up my dad kept a big thick paddle on top of the fridge. In the back of my mind, I always knew that if I misbehaved I would get that paddle. I didn’t get many spankings growing up, mostly because I was kind of afraid of my dad, but one time, when I did something pretty bad, I knew that as soon as dad got home I would get that paddle.
I’ll never forget what happened next. When my dad got home and heard what I did, he told me to get in the car. I assumed it was so that he could dispose of the body. But my dad didn’t spank me, hit me, or even yell at me. Instead, he took me out for a root beer at Stewart’s drive in. We talked about what happened and why I was so upset. He listened and showed me mercy. And I never repeated that same misbehavior again.
But here’s the thing – If I didn’t fear the rod, I wouldn’t have been so shocked by my father’s mercy. I probably wouldn’t have talked to my dad and opened up to him about what was upsetting me. If every time I was foolish he just took me out for sodas, I likely wouldn’t have ever understand how to be wise.
Folly is inborn into the heart of every child. A folly that makes every child believe that they are the center of the universe. Children are not naturally kind or gracious, forgiving or sharing. They are little narcissists. Every child has to learn how to relate to others, how to empathize, how to love. How is folly driven out of a person? The rod.
But not just the rod. The rod + mercy. The Bible shows us time and time again that good discipline requires a balance of both hurting and healing. Look at how Hebrews describes God’s discipline of his children:
Hebrews 12:7-8, 11-12. 7It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons…10For [our fathers] 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. 11For 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. 12Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
Loving fathers discipline their children within these loving parameters: discipline is always for our good. It is for a short time. It is for the purpose of training. Yes, it is painful not pleasant. Yet, it must be followed by healing and guidance onto the straight path. Most important, it should yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Our Heavenly Father’s discipline of us always meets these requirements. In Christ, God’s providential discipline of us is always for our good, to conform us into the likeness of Christ. It is never arbitrary or vengeful. It is for our training in godliness. How? By using our pain to reveal our folly. But also by healing our lame hearts that are out of joint with great mercy and grace. A mercy that will release the Spirit of Christ in us as our hearts are torn open by the discipline of God’s word and life’s circumstances. A grace that will yield a harvest of peace and righteousness as we know that all of God’s discipline, just as it was on Christ’s cross, is for our resurrection glory.
You: Can you identify God’s discipline in your life? Start by looking at your pain.
You in Christ: How do our disciplining trials prove that we are united to Christ and his cross?
Christ in you: What discipline from God can you embrace today, rather than trying to escape it?
Pray: Father, because you love me you discipline me. May your hurting heal me, and conform me to the likeness of Christ. Amen.
To Live is Christ 