Growth

Thanks for the Reprimand

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.  – Proverbs 3:11-12

In the syllabus I give to each of my classes, there is a section called “student responsibilities.” Under this title,  I remind every individual in my class that they are responsible for the choices that they make, and for accepting the consequences of those choices prior to making their decisions. For example, if you plagiarize in my class, you receive a zero on an assignment and the administration is notified of the violation to the academic honor code. If you miss class, you are unable to earn participation points. Because I tend to be a planner  (and because I’ve been through several semesters of teaching), included in the syllabus is a pretty thorough list of the choices that students might make and what will happen as a result. The reason I do this, and enforce the policies I’ve outlined, isn’t because I am mean. It’s because (as I tell them) I want them to realize that it’s better for them to learn that there are consequences for their actions in the relative safety of school, then when it “really counts” in their career. In other words, I do it because I care about their future and who they become.

I’m reminded that these are the same reasons that God is consistent with His discipline towards His followers.  His Word has clearly given us the directives for life, and just like Adam and Eve, we are without excuse when we choose to not follow the directions. The fact that at times, we suffer consequences for this disobedience is God’s design of bringing us back to Him.  The hope, just like my hope for my students, is that we will recognize the error of our ways and return to make choices that honor Him.

(A quick note – this isn’t to say that all bad things are punishment for our actions. For more on my take on the “problem of evil”, please click here.)

Which brings me to the point of this little excursion, if the purpose of discipline is to bring me back in alignment with God, then when I recognize that I’m experiencing His correction, shouldn’t my response be one of thanks? He could let me continue along my own, forsaken path, but instead, the consequences He allows, prompt me to return to Him? What is more evidence of His grace that even when I rebel, He desires to bring me back into relationship with Him?

Saying thanks when I receive a godly reprimand isn’t an easy thing to do, but that doesn’t mean it’s not the right thing.

What tips do you have to rightly respond to God’s correction?

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Purpose

"I Am The King"

Recently, it was reported that Prince William and Prince Harry’s first official painting had been unveiled. Looking at these two young princes, it is easy to see why they are acclaimed. They embody everything that we’ve come to expect about royalty from the tragic family, the youthful excess, to the life of privilege that few of us can relate to, let alone understand.

Although we may not be able to comprehend the life in which every earthly thing seems to be at our fingertips, it doesn’t stop us from believing that we too deserve special treatment. Sure, most of us may not ever voice this claim, but it is readily apparent when we are bumped from “our” flight, when someone else takes the last chocolate we were craving, or when something, anything, doesn’t go the way that we expected.

Yet, unlike Prince William and Prince Harry, our claims are unsubstantiated. And, despite their birthright, in truth, even the royal highnesses don’t deserve the favors that have been granted. Because of our sin, we are entitled to nothing but death and discipline. The fact that God in His grace gives us good things on Earth is a representation of His character, not of our worthiness. We want to be granted special allowances, but the fact that God provided a way to restore our relationship with Him through His Son, is really more than we should really hope for.

In Southern California, there was a television salesman who used to proudly proclaim his dominance in his store’s selection, by exclaiming, “I am the king.” When I demand things of God – gifts that I think I’m entitled to, experiences that I desire, pains I want to avoid, my undue arrogance is similar to the television spokesperson. I am no more the king, than he is. There is only one King of the Universe – and my job is to rightly respond to the situations that in His wisdom He allows in my life, to lay my crown – my claim’s of worthiness at His feet, setting aside every pretension to praise Him. Anything else, would be like taking the princes’ painted crowns, and placing them on my own head thinking it means I’m royalty. Only One gets to rightly proclaim His supremacy, and to say “I AM the King.”

How do you put down your crown and worship God?

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