Daily Devotional for Friday, October 31

The Rod Brings Wisdom

“The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother shame. Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul,” Proverbs 29:15, 17.

No child desires to have the rod upon him, and no parent desires to use it; yet, it is biblical. The expression, “This is going to hurt me more than it will hurt you,” is true. If used correctly, spanking will help the child, but it is difficult for parents to administer because they knows it hurts.

            Many of you reading these verses from today’s devotional have used the rod or have been given the rod. However, you do not see the rod being utilized as it once was, and the outcome of that, sadly, is a generation without restraint.

            Using discipline gives wisdom. Wisdom to choose rightly and respectfully. Should the rod be the first to be used when a child needs correction? Not necessarily. Other methods of corrections should be tried first, but the rod should not be put on a shelf or abandoned altogether. Since the flesh nature inherently goes against God and His ways, knowing there are consequences for bad behavior helps to keep the child in check.

            Correction does two things. First, it helps children learn self-control, so they are not so selfish. Second, it gives peace and rest to the parents resulting in peace for the whole household. The statement, “Where no vision is,” refers to not keeping the ways of God. Following Him should be a priority. The only way a child will learn to keep God’s commandments is through discipline.

            If a child is disciplined correctly while growing up, learning boundaries and consequences will make it easier for him to follow the Lord when he gets older because a sense of respect for rules will already be instilled.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

Do not shy away from correction or being corrected. It reaps bountiful rewards.

Karry Irizarry