Proverbs Devotion - Day 29

As I was reading the proverb today, I was struck by two verses. Both verses, 29:15 and 17, focus on the importance of discipline and correction for children. It is not difficult to see the results that a lack of discipline has brought in our society. Selfishness and entitlement abound because parents have ignored God’s example and instruction in Scripture for how to rear a child. Yet, that is not why these two verses stuck out to me today. Few phrases in Scripture are more terrifying than "left to himself." Due to our fallenness, we crave total autonomy. We want to be left alone to chart our own course. Yet, Scripture warns that a soul left to its own devices does not drift toward holiness, but rather it drifts toward ruin and shame. Because of this fundamental truth we see in Scripture and experience in everyday life, our natural instincts always lead us away from the Father’s house. If God were to leave us to ourselves, we would be utterly lost.

Yet that is one of the many beauties of our God. He is a covenant-keeping Father. He refuses to abandon His children to their own self-destruction. This is where the painful mercy of divine discipline enters the believer's life. The "rod and reproof" mentioned in verse 15 are not tools of a frustrated tyrant. These are actually instruments of God’s divine grace being shown to his children. It is through the exercising of these instruments in our lives that God gives us correction and shapes us into the very image of Jesus. It is important to remember that, as God’s children, Christ has already paid the penalty for our sin. He has already satisfied the wrath of God for our rebellion. Therefore, when you experience the painful "rod" of trial, illness, loss, or convicting reproof, it should not be viewed as merely God punishing you. It is your Heavenly Father pruning you. It is the proof of your adoption. This is how he is conforming you to the image of Christ. It is a painful process at times, but it is not a process absent the loving hand of the Heavenly Father. If you are going through a difficult time right now or maybe feel like the “rod and reproof” of the Lord are upon you, then it can be helpful to shift your perspective on what is transpiring. Do not ask the question or assume, “Why is God punishing me? Does God even care about me?” Instead, ask the question that is more in line with God’s character and work in the lives of his children: “How is my loving Father using this specific trial to kill my self-will and form Christ in me?"

Verse 17 describes a beautiful outcome to this painful process: rest and delight. God’s discipline is always purposeful. He breaks your reliance on worldly comforts so that you might find your ultimate rest in Christ. He uses temporal discomfort to produce eternal joy. He does all of these things in us to make us more like Jesus in whom God is well pleased. God delights in his children. He delights in you if you are his child. Rejoice in this truth and take comfort today knowing that the trials you face are not signs of God's absence, but active proofs of His parental love.

Knowing that God cares about your development and that he delights in seeing us conformed to the image of Christ, take the initiative in disciplining yourself to do the same. Do not shrug off or ignore or even avoid faithful reproof from others. As we have already read in Proverbs 11:14, “in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” So, invite godly correction in your life. Explicitly ask a mature believer, spouse, or pastor where they see spiritual blind spots in your life. Be seeking ways to grow and mature in your walk with the Lord. Also, kill those defensive instincts in your heart. When confronted with a fault, pause before speaking. Do not immediately seek to lash out when these things are pointed out, but instead consider the words and who they are from. Pray and ask the Lord if this is a justified fault or a misunderstanding. God uses our brothers and sisters to keep us accountable. Finally, in those moments where you need to do so, own your faults quickly. Confess the sin immediately to God and the aggrieved person without making excuses. Do not be that child that brings shame to the Lord, but rather be the one who responds and grows from the loving hand of the Father..