Monday, October 18, 2010
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Proverbs 27-29 & 2 Corinthians 12
THANKFUL SUBMISSION – Submission to the Family
SCRIPTURE READING
Proverbs 13:24 (NIV); “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.”
Our submission to Christ in obedience can greatly affect our children. God told the Israelites explicitly that He was a jealous God, “punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate [him], but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love [him] and keep [his] commandments”. David was one such example. Because his heart was after God’s, because He was quick to repent and He desired to please God with His life, God made Him a great promise: that David’s descendant would always be on the throne until the Messiah’s coming – a picture of God lavishing His love to the thousandth generation. On the other hand, David’s sins of adultery and murder as well as the LACK OF DISCIPLINE he showed his sons caused great grief in Israel. While God did not break His covenant with David, David’s sins resulted in a great split in the kingdom and the wickedness and eternal damnation of many of his sons and other descendants.
PRAYER & MEDITATION
1. Read Exodus 20:4-6. Spend some time asking God to search your heart. Is there anything you are doing – any path that you are going down or sins that you are harboring that will result in grief for your family in the future? Ask Him to reveal to you the effects of your sin and spend some time in confession. Be sure to discuss these things with your spouse if you are married.2. Meditate on the verses above. If you have children, what does it mean for you to “train them up” and be “careful to discipline”?
3. How does God want to use David’s story in your life? For more on that, see 2 Samuel 7 (blessing), 11, 13 & 1 Kings 11 (results of sin)
4. Are there any major changes that God wants to make in your family in regards to teaching and discipline? If you don’t have kids in the home, ask Jesus if there are any changes He wants to make in regards to your attitude about your family.
