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
When I was a kid, I was angry. There was a lot of chaos in my early years and when I went to school, it offered a place of structure. Sadly, in my first-grade year, I began with a teacher that did not manage her classroom well and it was very chaotic. I did not do well and my anger easily got the best of me, until I was moved to another teacher’s class and she offered order and structure. Her classroom was well-disciplined. I thrived. The word discipline is often misunderstood and when we hear it we more often than not run from it. If we were to tell people we discipline our children, most would think we are talking about punishment. Discipline offers correction and, yes, that may mean punishment if lines are crossed, but mostly it offers clear boundaries. We are a people that crave discipline, but most often don’t like to receive it until we understand the benefit. As a little first-grader, I knew punishment all too well and much of that punishment came because there was no discipline. Discipline brings structure and it allows us to understand love. Our world is far too chaotic and we find that people can redefine most everything to suit themselves, but our Lord is not so flexible. He has given us clear guidance and direction out of His love for us. He offers correction when needed and calls us to His Word to seek Him out. I don’t offer the same correction to another’s child as I do my own because they are not mine and I will only correct when they are putting my children at harm, under my care, or if what they are doing could damage property or endanger their lives. On the other hand, for us to know God’s correction shows His love and the fact that we are claimed as His own.
Let us pray. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you to protect me this day also from sin and every evil, that in all I do today, I may please you. For into your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel watch over me, that the wicked foe have no power over me. Amen.