REJECT, LOATHE, OR LEARN

My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD,

and do not loathe His rebuke;

for the LORD disciplines the one He loves,

as does a father the son in whom he delights.  Proverbs 3:11-12

In taking a closer look at this particular proverb, I notice the first two lines are a contrast.

First we are warned: Do not reject God's discipline. This word "reject" has the meaning "to spurn, despise, or make disappear". When the book of Hebrews quotes this proverb, the word gets translated as "make light of" in the NIV. The image is of a little boy who gets spanked and then smirks, "That didn't hurt."

On the other hand, we are warned also not to react with loathing when we are disciplined. This word in Hebrew has a sense of sickening dread. In Hebrews 12:5 it becomes "lose heart" in the NIV. What we have here is the child who is crushed by the spanking and slinks away sobbing, "Mommy doesn't love me anymore."

The right response is somewhere in between: We take the discipline, learn from it, and recognize that it is a loving Father who disciplines His children.

Sometimes when our heavenly Father disciplines us, in comes in the shape of the consequences of our sinful behavior. We get caught cheating on the test and we get an F. We get caught cheating on our spouse and divorce lays waste to our marriage.

But I think most of the time, if we're honest, we get away with sinful behavior, with no immediate earthly consequences. In these cases, the Lord's rebuke comes in the shape of a guilty conscience, a recognition that we really shouldn't have said or done that thing. 

When that spiritual spanking comes, are you more likely to take it lightly and dismiss it? 

Or feel crushed under the weight of it and lose hope of God's love? 

Or are you able to recognize it as loving discipline that guides you toward the words and actions your Father expects of His child?