DISCIPLINE

Time with Jesus - Monday, 28 January 2013

Hi all,

According to the law in UK and certain other parts of the world, at one time, it was lawful for a father to beat his daughter, or a husband to beat his wife. I seem to recall that the “stick” had to be less than a certain diameter because these women were not to be killed. On the other hand, men and boys were caned on the instruction of the law. All this was a bit sadistic. I find it very difficult to think of ladies being disciplined with a cane. All these laws have been repealed. The trouble is, no alternative disciplinary method was introduced. Discipline originates from God. The consequence of discarding it, we see all around us. ¹⁸ When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful. Proverbs 29:18 NLT. Look at God’s instruction to us in Proverbs. It makes it very clear. To obey the laws of God makes us joyful! It really does! It’s today’s meditation.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Monday, 28 January 2013			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	Discipline
In the course of writing these meditations, I’ve placed great emphasis on discipline. We have seen how God disciplines His children. In fact God’s Word tells us that if you are not being disciplined by the Lord, you are probably not one of His children! Sure, that’s hard to believe when just about every non-believer in the world is convinced that he/she is one of God’s children. We tend to forget that life today has a disciplinary system. Try driving around the streets and motorways on the wrong side of the road. You will quickly get the point. If the airplane to London leaves at 18h30, don’t pitch up at 19h00 and expect it to be still there. We are constantly subjected to society’s rules. Can you imagine an army that doesn’t follow orders? “Don’t wake me up now sergeant. I’m still sleeping! Marching would also be chaotic. Some would and some wouldn’t. What about direction? Where would they march to? How about Church services? When will they start? Even more important, when will they end? Most of society’s norms are learned when we are young. Get to school late and there is a problem! In my day we were encouraged not to be late by a stick wielding headmaster. It’s amazing how his stick made sure we were there in good time. Yes, discipline was “beaten” into us. But it seems to have done me more good than harm. It rather reminds me of a story about a company who were hiring people. There was a notice saying “No Hospital Visits. You had it all when we hired all of you. If you have anything removed you aren’t the person we hired.” And “No being late and no Time Off. The only acceptable excuse is death – yours. Two weeks’ notice required.” Now that’s discipline! Today’s meditation looks at the 2011 rioting in London where “kids” did their best to destroy anything and everything. Looting, burning and all sorts of anti-social behaviour were carried out in public. There was one case where a young lady who had just qualified with a University degree walked into a shop and helped herself to items of clothing. Subsequently she was horrified by her own action. But this only underscores the fact that discipline was absent in that mob. It had become redundant. Caning was thrown away. Along with it went discipline. Scripture describes it as follows; 18 When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful. Prov. 29:18 NLT God’s Word gives Divine Guidance. If we do not accept it or if we cast it aside, people run wild. That’s what happened. Even the young University Graduate was “caught up with the mob”. Mobs riot and run wild. The “Marikana” incident confirms this. Actions were ungodly and mob rule ensued. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			16 Awake, north wind! Rise up, south wind! Blow on my garden and spread its fragrance all around. Come into your garden, my love; taste its finest fruits. SoS 4:16 NLT 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening--it's painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. Heb 12:11 NLT 22 But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard--things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, Gal 5:22 MSG 8 No, but He exiled Israel to call her to account. She was exiled from her land as though blown away in a storm from the east. Isaiah 27:8 NLT 13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. Psalm 103:13 ESV 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Cor. 4:16-18 ESV 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered Heb 5:8 ESV 15 We have a high priest who can feel it when we are weak and hurting. We have a high priest who has been tempted in every way, just as we are. But he did not sin. Heb 4:15 NIrV	Just about a year ago, we saw on the TV, People in a riot, where none should ever be. Youngsters going crazy, burning down the stores. Rushing in and looting; they couldn’t carry more. That this was in London came as a surprise. We found it very difficult to see before our eyes. Sadly it was noted, that they were not all “yobs”. ‘Though they stated vocally, that there weren’t any jobs. They were disappointed and had nothing else to do, But vandalise the neighbourhood and leave it all askew. The viewers were astonished and couldn’t comprehend, What the world was coming to. When would the violence end? It wasn’t many years ago that life in the UK, Was very, very different, from what it is today. The children were well disciplined, were courteous and kind. But when we look at them right now, what is it now we find? A culture grossly different from what it used to be. For discipline has ended; so children can be free! Many are uneducated; some can hardly read. They thrive on TV programmes,  that concentrate on greed. Violence is normal. So grab what you can get. The norms of our society no longer can be met. But I could see it happening in nineteen sixty six. The teachers could no longer give anyone the stick. They said it was inhuman, to beat a little child. The fact that it restrained them, from truly running wild, Was not even considered! For we had “spared the rod”. And didn’t seek to follow the sound advice from God. “Spare the rod and spoil the child”, was simply not believed. Psychologists knew better! But they had been deceived! Discipline moulds character. It’s plain as plain can be. That’s why it’s not surprising at what we all can see. There wasn’t any discipline and as the Lord has said The little brats had all been spoiled and this in turn had led, To what we are now seeing. God’s word had been ignored; And those who do not follow Him, will perish by the sword. Discipline is needed according to God’s Book. If we’re disobedient, then Lucifer will cook, A situation up for us that few of us desire; And when it’s at maturity, the thing will then backfire. So let’s make a decision to do what God’s Word says. Then we will find our children act according to His ways. Jim Strickland  Written 28th January 2012