Prov. 23:13-14

Prov. 23:13-14 Don’t fail to correct your children. They won’t die if you spank them. Physical discipline may well save them from death.

My dad did not always walk with the Lord, but he  take these verses to heart.  He was a strong disciplinarian while I was growing up.  He was the ruler of our home and we did what he told us to do or else faced the consequences.  I grew up back in the day when parents could use the rod to discipline their children.  My dad knew more than one way to use his belt.  He wore them to help hold up his pants and he also used them to help correct me when I needed it. 

I never did enjoy my dad’s discipline, but one thing is for sure, I learned what it was to respect and obey him.  Sometimes I was a slow learner, but learn I did.  As I look back on those years, I know now that I needed his corrections.  My being spanked did not kill me.  It did tend to kill my rebellious spirit.  My dad’s discipline helped to shape my character.  I learned right from wrong and that it was far to my advantage to do what is right as opposed to the wrong.  Now, don’t get me wrong; I still did wrong things, but when I did I always tried to keep them from his watchful eyes.

Discipline is good for us as long as it is not out of control and harmful to our well-being.  It is never okay to discipline a child out of uncontrolled anger.  As long as it is done with love and with the purpose of teaching us to choose to do what is right, it can be a good thing.

It is also good for us to be disciplined by the Lord.  We often need correcting because we tend to not do what is right before Him.  We need His loving and firm hand upon us to keep us from wandering away from Him.  It may hurt for awhile, but just like I survived my dad’s discipline growing up, we survive quite well.  When we submit to the Lord’s rule over us, we become the people God longs for us to be, a people after His own heart, a holy people.