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Discipline
“He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes” (Proverbs 13:24).
“For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth … Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Hebrews 12:6, 11).
My father was a strict disciplinarian. He was not opposed to a good spanking or other forms of punishment if he deemed it necessary, and it seems to my recollection that he often did. He was not afraid to follow the instructions of the Bible which says, “Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying” (Proverbs 19:18). He saw no conflict between love and discipline. Neither does the Bible. Our Lord said, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten” (Revelation 3:19). The Lord loves us too much to let us go our own way, and if we insist, He must allow disciplinary circumstances in our life. He does this because He loves us, and wants us to be exercised, repent, and walk in the joy of obedience and communion with Himself.
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