Proverbs 3:11-12
“My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, and do not resent His rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those He loves, as a father the son he delights in.”
I have a photo of my dad, taken in 1950, standing with five of his brothers in front of two 1940’s era cars. As I look at it I feel a longing to see my Dad once more and tell him how much I love him. This man with only an eighth grade education had wisdom which cannot be taught in schools. But beyond that, he was a man who was filled with love for others.
Dad taught me what it was to know the Lord. He did that in many ways, not all of them pleasant. I can vividly remember that in the second drawer of his chest of drawers, he had an old fashioned razor strap. They were created to sharpen the old straight razors which were used by men back in the early days. They may have been designed to sharpen the razors, but they tended to become objects of terror to the behinds of young boys!
Dad freely applied it to my seat of understanding. When the leather and canvas smacked together during the spanking, it made a sound like a rifle shot. It took a very short time before I was promising never, ever, in no way, whatever, etc., to misbehave again. (Sad to say, I did!)
Looking back on these episodes of discipline, I know it hurt Dad as much as it hurt me, but in a different way. He was doing it for love and to direct my steps. When I became a teen, I loved and respected my Dad.
Across the years, since receiving the Lord as my personal Savior, I have grown in my love with Him. There have been times when I felt His hand of discipline, but I always knew that it was for my own good. I also have come to realize that when the Lord has had to discipline me, it hurts Him more than it does me. He only brings about the discipline because of His great love and concern for me. I can hardly wait to see my Lord Jesus and thank Him for loving me enough to discipline me.
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today. Trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil