🕊️ PRAY HERE Devotion 🕊️ “A Generation Where the Rod Was Spared.”
Scripture: Proverbs 23:13–14 (NIV, paraphrased)
Verse 13: Do not withhold discipline from a child. Correction is necessary, and the proverb uses the rod to describe firm discipline.
Verse 14: Through such correction, you can help save a child from a destructive path that leads toward death.
Devotion
I was raised with discipline and consequences for wrongdoing!
It was common for children to be taught respect and also that our actions had consequences.
THE ROD WAS NOT SPARED!
Whewwwww! 😮💨
When I was growing up, you didn’t just do whatever you wanted to do and expect there to be no consequences!
You were taught to respect your parents, respect your elders, respect authority, and respect other people’s property!
AND YOU KNEW THAT EVERY ACTION HAD A CONSEQUENCE!
MY, MY, MY!
Now, when I look at the world today, I see a generation where, in far too many homes, THE ROD HAS BEEN SPARED!
Children are getting everything they want!
And when their parents can’t give it to them, some decide they’re going to TAKE IT!
They don’t want to hear NO!
They don’t want to be corrected!
They don’t want anybody telling them what to do!
AND SOME HAVE BEEN SO ACCUSTOMED TO GETTING THEIR WAY THAT THEY BELIEVE THE RULES DON’T APPLY TO THEM!
WHEWWWWW! 😮💨🙌🏽
Now, let’s read today’s Scripture together.
In Proverbs 23:13–14, we are instructed not to withhold discipline from our children.
And the Scripture goes on to explain that correction can help save a child from a destructive path!
MY, MY, MY!
Do you see what God is teaching us?
DISCIPLINE IS NOT JUST ABOUT CORRECTING WHAT A CHILD DID WRONG TODAY!
IT’S ABOUT HELPING PREVENT WHAT THAT CHILD COULD BECOME TOMORROW!
OOOOOOEW WEEEEE! 🙌🏽🔥
The rod in this passage represents serious correction and discipline. In biblical times, physical punishment was one way that correction was administered.
But the lesson we need to understand is that CHILDREN NEED DISCIPLINE, GUIDANCE, AND ACCOUNTABILITY!
Discipline is not about taking your anger out on a child. It is about teaching them right from wrong and helping them develop the character they will need throughout life.
LOVE DOES NOT MEAN ALLOWING A CHILD TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT!
Whewwwww!
Let me give you an example.
A child wants something in the store.
The parent says NO!
The child begins screaming, crying, and throwing a tantrum.
And rather than allowing the child to learn that they cannot always have their way, the parent gives in just to make them stop!
NOW WAIT A MINUTE! 👀
What did that child just learn?
IF I ACT BAD ENOUGH, I CAN GET WHAT I WANT!
MY, MY, MY!
And when that behavior continues without correction, the child gets older.
Now they’re not crying in the grocery store.
They’re slamming doors!
Cursing at their parents!
Demanding money!
Threatening people when they don’t get what they want!
BECAUSE NOBODY EVER TAUGHT THEM HOW TO HANDLE THE WORD NO!
WHEWWWWW! 😮💨
And here’s another one.
A child gets in trouble at school.
The teacher calls the parent to explain what happened.
But before the parent even hears the full story, they’re ready to fight the teacher!
“MY CHILD WOULDN’T DO THAT!”
Well, wait a minute!
HOW DO YOU KNOW?! 👀
You weren’t there!
Now, we should always make sure our children are being treated fairly.
BUT LOVING YOUR CHILD DOES NOT MEAN REFUSING TO BELIEVE THEY COULD EVER BE WRONG!
Sometimes our children ARE wrong!
Sometimes they DO make poor decisions!
And sometimes they NEED correction!
WE ARE NOT HELPING OUR CHILDREN WHEN WE DEFEND THEIR WRONGDOING SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY BELONG TO US!
OOOOOOEW WEEEEE! 🙌🏽🔥
And here’s where this becomes serious.
When a child is never taught that their actions have consequences, they can grow into an adult who believes they should be able to do whatever they want!
They don’t respect authority.
They don’t respect boundaries.
They don’t respect other people’s property.
And when they don’t get what they want, they become angry!
BUT THE WORLD IS NOT GOING TO EXCUSE EVERYTHING YOUR CHILD DOES!
Your employer will hold you accountable.
The law will hold you accountable.
And other people are not obligated to tolerate disrespect or mistreatment!
IF WE DON’T TEACH OUR CHILDREN THAT THEIR ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES, LIFE WILL EVENTUALLY TEACH THEM!
AND SOMETIMES THOSE CONSEQUENCES ARE MUCH MORE SERIOUS!
MY, MY, MY! 😢🙏🏽
And this is why the wisdom in Proverbs is so important.
DISCIPLINE IS NOT THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE!
Sometimes love requires correction!
Sometimes love requires saying NO!
Sometimes love requires allowing someone to experience the consequences of their actions!
YOU CANNOT PREPARE A CHILD FOR LIFE BY MAKING SURE THEY NEVER HAVE TO FACE THE RESULTS OF THEIR DECISIONS!
WHEWWWWW! 🙌🏽
Parents, we have to be consistent!
You cannot tell your child something is wrong today and then laugh about it tomorrow.
You cannot establish rules and then abandon them every time your child gets upset.
And you cannot expect respect while constantly modeling disrespect!
OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT JUST LISTENING TO WHAT WE SAY. THEY’RE WATCHING HOW WE LIVE!
OOOOOOEW WEEEEE! 🙌🏽🔥
Now, I want to turn this devotion in another direction.
Because we’ve spent some time talking about children.
BUT WHAT ABOUT US GROWN FOLKS?! 👀
MY, MY, MY!
Some of us don’t like correction either!
We don’t like being told we’re wrong!
We don’t like being held accountable!
We don’t like hearing NO!
And we certainly don’t like consequences!
SOME OF US ARE GROWN ADULTS STILL THROWING TANTRUMS WHEN WE DON’T GET OUR WAY!
WHEWWWWW! 😮💨😂
And here’s the question.
HOW CAN WE EXPECT OUR CHILDREN TO ACCEPT DISCIPLINE WHEN WE REFUSE TO ACCEPT CORRECTION FROM GOD?
OOOOOOEW WEEEEE! 🙌🏽🔥
Because just as children need guidance and correction, WE ARE GOD’S CHILDREN, AND WE NEED HIS DISCIPLINE TOO!
Hebrews 12:6 teaches us that the Lord disciplines those He loves.
DID YOU HEAR THAT?
THOSE HE LOVES!
God’s correction is not proof that He doesn’t love us.
IT’S EVIDENCE THAT HE CARES ABOUT WHO WE’RE BECOMING!
My, my, my!
Sometimes God corrects us through His Word.
Sometimes through the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes through wise counsel.
And sometimes He allows us to experience the consequences of our own decisions so that we can learn and turn away from destructive behavior.
GOD LOVES US TOO MUCH TO ENCOURAGE US TO REMAIN IN SIN!
Whewwwww!
Let me give you an example.
God’s Word teaches us to forgive.
But you keep holding on to bitterness.
You know the resentment is changing your attitude.
You know it’s affecting your peace.
But every time you feel convicted to let it go, you come up with another reason to hold on to it!
YOU WANT GOD’S PEACE, BUT YOU DON’T WANT TO OBEY HIS INSTRUCTIONS!
MY, MY, MY!
Or maybe God has been dealing with you about the way you speak to people.
You know your words have been harsh.
You know you’ve been disrespectful.
You know you’ve been hurting people with your mouth!
But instead of receiving correction, you keep saying:
“THAT’S JUST HOW I AM!”
Well, maybe that’s how you’ve BEEN!
BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT’S HOW GOD WANTS YOU TO REMAIN!
OOOOOOEW WEEEEE! 🙌🏽🔥
Or perhaps God has been showing you that you need to be more disciplined in your prayer life, your finances, your relationships, or your decisions.
But every time the Holy Spirit convicts you, you put it off!
WE WANT GOD TO BLESS OUR LIVES, BUT SOMETIMES WE RESIST THE VERY CORRECTION THAT WOULD HELP US LIVE MORE WISELY!
WHEWWWWW!
And here’s something I want us to understand.
GOD’S DISCIPLINE HAS A PURPOSE!
He doesn’t correct us to destroy us.
He corrects us because He desires holiness, obedience, and spiritual growth in our lives!
Hebrews 12:11 reminds us that discipline may be painful at the time, but afterward it can produce righteousness and peace in those who are trained by it.
THERE IS FRUIT THAT COMES FROM RECEIVING CORRECTION!
My, my, my! 🙌🏽
And that’s why we should stop treating every correction like somebody is attacking us!
Sometimes somebody is trying to HELP you!
Sometimes that parent is trying to protect you!
Sometimes that pastor or spiritual leader is trying to guide you according to Scripture!
Sometimes that person who loves you is trying to warn you before you make a decision that could hurt you!
And sometimes GOD IS TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION!
BUT WE HAVE TO BE HUMBLE ENOUGH TO RECEIVE CORRECTION!
OOOOOOEW WEEEEE! 🙌🏽🔥
Parents, I want to encourage you today.
DON’T GIVE UP ON TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN!
Even when it’s hard.
Even when they don’t like your rules.
Even when they think you’re being unfair.
Even when everybody else’s parents seem to be allowing something that you know isn’t right for your home!
YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS NOT TO BE YOUR CHILD’S FAVORITE PERSON EVERY DAY!
YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO LOVE THEM ENOUGH TO GUIDE THEM IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION!
Teach them respect.
Teach them accountability.
Teach them self-control.
Teach them compassion.
Teach them the value of hard work.
Teach them that they cannot always have what they want.
And most importantly, TEACH THEM THE WORD OF GOD!
But don’t just teach it.
LIVE IT BEFORE THEM!
And when you make a mistake as a parent, acknowledge it and apologize.
Because even our children need to see what humility and accountability look like!
My, my, my!
And to every adult reading this devotion, myself included:
WE ARE NEVER TOO OLD TO BE CORRECTED BY GOD!
We are never too grown to repent!
Never too experienced to learn!
Never too important to be humbled!
And never so spiritual that we no longer need discipline!
IF WE WANT TO GROW IN GOD, WE HAVE TO BE WILLING TO LET HIM CORRECT US!
WHEWWWWW! 🙌🏽🔥
So today, let’s recognize the purpose of discipline.
DISCIPLINE TEACHES US THAT OUR CHOICES MATTER!
DISCIPLINE HELPS US DEVELOP SELF-CONTROL!
DISCIPLINE REMINDS US THAT LOVE AND ACCOUNTABILITY GO TOGETHER!
Parents, our children need guidance!
And children of God, WE NEED GUIDANCE TOO!
Let’s raise children who understand that their actions have consequences.
And let’s be adults who are humble enough to receive correction from our Heavenly Father!
DON’T SPARE THE TEACHING!
DON’T SPARE THE ACCOUNTABILITY!
DON’T SPARE THE LOVE!
AND DON’T REJECT THE CORRECTION GOD IS USING TO HELP YOU GROW!
HALLELUJAH TO OUR LORD! 🙌🏽🙏🏽💙
✍🏽 Reflect & Respond
Today, I want us to examine how we give and receive discipline.
As a parent or someone who influences children, am I teaching accountability and respect, or am I allowing bad behavior to continue because correction is uncomfortable?
Have I ever defended or excused wrongdoing simply because it involved someone I love?
When God corrects me through His Word or the conviction of the Holy Spirit, do I respond with humility and obedience, or do I resist Him?
And here’s the question I really want you to sit with:
AM I EXPECTING DISCIPLINE FROM MY CHILDREN WHILE REFUSING TO BE A DISCIPLINED AND OBEDIENT CHILD OF GOD?
Today, ask God to show you where greater consistency, wisdom, and accountability are needed.
If you’re raising children, establish loving boundaries and follow through with appropriate consequences.
And if God has been correcting something in your own life, don’t keep putting it off!
RECEIVE THE CORRECTION. MAKE THE CHANGE. AND KEEP GROWING!
🙏🏽 Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me enough to correct me. Lord, please give me wisdom, patience, and understanding as I raise and guide my children. Help me teach them right from wrong, respect for others, self-control, and the importance of being accountable for their actions. Father, when I become frustrated, help me respond with love and wisdom instead of anger. Give me strength to remain consistent and courage to correct what needs to be corrected. Lord, please watch over my children, protect them from destructive influences, and help them make wise decisions. And Father, don’t let me become so focused on correcting my children that I forget I am Your child too. Help me receive Your correction with humility. Make me disciplined, obedient, and faithful to Your Word. Correct whatever is not pleasing to You in my life, and help me become the example You have called me to be. In Jesus Christ’s name, Amen. 🙏🏽💙
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