The Devotional – 022 – Discipline?

The Devotional – 022 – Discipline?

Proverbs 13:24 – He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

 

 Comments and challenges

There are some routine things in life that teach us to be disciplined and my thoughts this morning are focused one discipline that we routinely overlook and that would be the discipline of; “once is enough so don’t be a fool and repeat once!” What was that? Once is once, if you repeat it, that makes it twice; simple huh? Yet all too often we find that the things repeated in life are the things that should not have happened at all and when these do happen, should never be repeated again and again.

Once on a submarine I was in my office working (odd I know) anyway, my office was in a compartment called “Machinery One” you sub sailors know the place well. I heard the drill press outside the startup and this is not unusual, but the following sound was; “Ouch” and a few other words of non-repeatable verbiage. Then again and again and then again the same sounds, I could take it no longer so getting up from my work I went to the door and peeked out and there he was.

One of the ship’s Senior Chiefs was holding up his bloodied hand, now wrapped in cloth, between his thumb and forefingers he held a quarter. He lowered his hand to the drill press again and was aiming to drill a hole in the center of the quarter. I said his name loudly, startled he dropped the coin! I said, “you are not going to do that again are you, your hand is a mess.” “Yes I am” he replied, “I am getting married when we get back home and I am making wedding bands for us”. I said, “it looks to me like you won’t be wearing yours since your left hand will no doubt be very swollen and painful.”

Of course this little story centers on the physical foolishness of one’s heart even when he or she thinks it is in the right place. There were several wrongs going on in this man’s heart at the time and I am sure you are aware of these, but the one that stands out for me is; “why do we purposely do things repeatedly when we know the outcome will be failure”. The answer is: we tend not to listen to the first call to discipline.

Proverbs 16:-1 – The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. (If we refuse to hear God as he directs our steps… guess what; the first hole in the hand appears).

Proverbs 16:2 – All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirits, (I’ll get it right the next time and yes the second hole appears).

Proverbs 16:3 – Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established. (The thoughts of a man’s heart in wickedness is not a sure foundation, the third hole in the hand appears).

Proverbs 16:4-5 – Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD, though they join forces, none will go unpunished. (Even the thought of joining forces in marriage, evil did not have the victory… fourth hole in the hand)!

Proverbs 16:6-8 – Purging, pleasing and righteousness are for those who respond to the discipline and call to repentance.

Proverbs 16:9 – Some will heed the discipline of our LORD, others will not but we can count on this. The plans of our choices in life lead to the direction ordered by the LORD. After five holes in his hand I am told that when the ship arrived in port; he went over to the exchange (PX) and bought wedding bands.