Righteous Training

Bowling was a fun-time activity when I was a teenager. The boys and I even enjoyed it when they were young. Actually, it was especially fun when the gutter-guards were in-place! Proverbs 13:24 says, "He who withholds the rod [of discipline] hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines and trains him diligently and appropriately [with wisdom and love]." While this rightly applies to the parent-child relationship, it is equally applicable to God and His children (Believers). Because God loves us deeply, it is often necessary [for our benefit and His glory] that we be disciplined unto righteousness. Yeah, we rarely appreciate it at the time! "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:11). The primary consideration for Believers is this: how truly important is holiness to you? When it's a priority, we will say with the psalmist, "Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it." (Psalm 119:35). We appreciate and delight in those Godly "gutter guards" that lead us to spiritual life and happiness. Let us welcome and gladly submit to God's ... righteous training.