I remember the spanking well. It was the spanking that made a mark on my future, as well as my behind. I had been missing for hours that day, and my mother feared for my safety. Later, when my mother approached me in my bedroom, I feared as well. The details of my conduct that day are not as important as those of my mother. Pr. 29:15 says “The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.” Suffice to say, my mother imparted some wisdom that day. Afterwards, I was standing a bit taller… it hurt too much to sit down.
As adults, we screw up from time to time. At times, our indescretions go unchallenged, leading only to further indescretions. Our age-appropriate rod of correction doesn’t come in the form of a spanking, a time out, or having our toys taken away, but the correction is still important. Sometimes the correction comes from the authorities (bosses, teachers, policemen, etc.) in our lives. Sometimes it comes from other sources. Have you ever spent time reading the Bible, praying, or talking with a Christian brother or sister, and felt challenged or convicted regarding your behavior or lifestyle? Those can also be moments that leave a mark on your future.
Don’t forget to read Pr. 29:1-27 today and tell me what you think.
Verse 1 whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery to me is really harsh but its just another example of how God is trying to show us that we need to be open to change/criticism because it can be for our benefit to change so we can become closer to God. Sometimes we cant become close to God because we dont accept what is wrong with us and change those problems.