Deuteronomy 7-8, Luke 7:36-8:3, Psalms 69:1-18, Proverbs 12:1
What God said to me – How dumb would you be if you were in the middle of a math test and the teacher came up and looked over your shoulder and told you that you were doing it wrong, here’s how to do it, but you kept doing it your way? In Proverbs I said, “whosoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.” Pretty blunt, isn’t it? Like a good parent I discipline My children. When I say discipline, it has two parts- reproof and training. I don’t just punish and reprove you when you are wrong, but I also discipline you by teaching and training you in the right way. I disciplined Israel by making them wander in the wilderness for forty years before they could enter into the promised land. It was partly punishment for their disobedience in refusing to enter the land when I told them to go, but it was also a time of training to teach them about My sovereignty and My provision. In all the time they wandered, their clothing never wore out. I protected them and fed them and quenched their thirst. They learned to trust me for their every need. So, when I reprove you when you are wrong, be grateful I didn’t let you continue going the wrong way. When you encounter trials and difficulty, be eagerly looking for what “I AM” teaching you or how “I AM” strengthening you. Learn to love discipline – it’s good for you.