Job 5:17
Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
Imagine a kid being disciplined by the parent. Would you find the kid smiling in satisfaction and delight over being corrected for a mistake he has committed considering that discipline is not something enjoyable and in most cases painful?
In fact, even children respond differently to being disciplined. Some take it positively and improve while others might take it negatively and they could even get rebellious.
How important is correction and discipline? Are blessings experienced in a life lived righteously or unrighteously? Have you ever thought that a disciplined person is a self-controlled person? The dictionary beautifully describes it as training that corrects, moulds, strengthens or perfects moral character. The Lord desires that you receive all the blessings He has in store for you and not one of them would be hindered because of an incorrect attitude, action or word. He is minutely interested in how you gain control over your own self and allows certain situations in your life that serve as ‘life-lessons’ where your character is shaped.
Proverbs 3:12 says that the Lord disciplines those He loves as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. If we could count every experience in our lives as a ‘life-lesson’ and underline the big lesson learnt from it, we would have gained more even from the most unpleasant experiences. An untendered plant or tree grows haphazardly and may very well be low in productivity, and so it is with our lives. The Lord is concerned about our growth and fruitfulness and like a caring gardener prunes everything that impedes our blessings. So let’s take this opportunity to thank the Lord for His loving discipline in our lives that does not lead us to death and destruction but rather leads us on the path to a live that overflows with fullness and abundance.
