July 3, 2008

Today's Reading - Proverbs 3
Click above for full KJV Online

Today's Pathway:previous - - - - - - - - - - - - next
Click above to go directly to TP
Following Scripture Verses

1. My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2. For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
4. So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
8. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
9. Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10. So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
11. My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
12. For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
16. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
17. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
19. The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
20. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
21. My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22. So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
24. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
26. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
27. Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
28. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
29. Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30. Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
31. Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
32. For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
33. The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
34. Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
35. The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

Today's Pathway:
You may click on verses for Scripture

"For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth." - Proverbs 3:12

Many Christians mistakenly view the chastisement of the Lord as a sign that He does not love them. The standard line is "How could a loving God allow this to happen?" Yet the Scriptures repeatedly tell us that discipline is always a sign of the love of God. In fact it is the absence of correction that indicates an absence of love. Because the Lord loves us, He desires that we would be in a right relationship with Him. He does not want us to stand before Him at the judgment unprepared. He wants to be able to bless and use us. In order for this to happen, He must give us the necessary chastening that will put us on the path that pleases Him and will spiritually prosper us.

It is interesting to note that the Lord likens His punishment of His children to a father's discipline of his children. First of all, this proves that a loving father will chasten his child, and that parents who do not practice discipline in their homes either are confused at best or unloving at worst. Second, Solomon writes that fathers discipline children in whom they delight. If a man is disinterested in his child, he will not care what happens to him in the future. He won't care if his son does well in school, or is prepared to get a good job, or is living a life that will please God. This father's concern will only be for himself. However, when a man is delighted with the son that the Lord has given him, he will do everything he can to make sure that the young man turns out to be a law-abiding, productive, Spirit-led Christian gentleman.

What is your attitude towards the chastening of the Lord? What is your attitude towards the chastening of your own children?

Pastor Mark J Montgomery