We live in the woods, so we get very little prolonged sunlight in the summer. But we love fresh tomatoes, so I decided to try growing them in pots set in a few sunny spots.
The plants started to grow right away and really fast. I was thrilled—until I realized that their fast growth was due to their efforts to reach out to the limited sunlight. By the time I figured out what was happening, the vines were too heavy to support themselves. I found some stakes, lifted the vines carefully, and fastened them in an upright position. Even though I tried to be gentle, one of the twisted vines broke when I tried to straighten it.
This reminded me that discipline must begin before character is permanently bent and twisted.
Eli the priest had two sons whom he failed to discipline. When their wickedness got so bad that he could no longer ignore it, he tried gentle rebuke (1 Sam. 2:24-25). But it was too late, and God announced the dire consequences: “I will judge [Eli’s] house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them” (3:13).
Being straightened out is painful, but being left crooked will ultimately hurt even more. — by Julie Ackerman Link (for Our Daily Bread 8/28/11)
Lord, even though it’s painful, we’re thankful that
You, in love, discipline us as Your children.
Help us to respond with repentance and obedience
to Your ways. Amen.
God’s love confronts and corrects.
READ: 1 Samuel 2:27-36
27 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house?
28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?
29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?
30 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father’s house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.
32 And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.
33 And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.
34 And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.
35 And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.
36 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests’ offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.
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yelena: thk you much…stop back often…look forward to reading your comments…
Mr. Massie,
I was raised by a simple man with a very simple outlook on life on things that matter most…
He said: Your faith, your family, your children, your home, your job, your marriage and even your pets….
“You get out of em what you put in em” “Enough sugar will make any recipe better” “People need to
Work on themselves for others not work on others for themselves” “You’ll receive more from others with
Love, Language & Leadership than you will with a stick” ” A man comes in this world and leaves this world
With one thing, His Name”. I lost this great man this week, he’s with his lord and saviour Jesus Christ this morning and now he’s gonna fly….
God Bless
kcj: the blessing of that is that if you are a Christian…you will be reunited in heaven…therein we rejoice…but death has lost its sting…
God is a big boy. Believe me, He is definitely capable of enduring any rants and raves anyone can direct at Him. God knows people are not pre-programed robots and subject to frailties. You are far better off giving God your honest, heart-felt rants and angers than some watered down version of really being pissed off. Honesty will get you farther with God than a dishonest attempt at mitigation. God does not like that. Anyway, that is my own personal experience. The only thing He really gets upset with is s genuine attempt at apostasy. Never ever go there!!! Not ever.
tthan43: I submit w/ confidence there things of which God disapproves besides apostasy…apostasy is the one sin for which there remains no forgiveness…
Beyond parenting … this applies to society as a whole … so many people have a sappy, sugary view of Christianity, as if “love” means always being sweet and gentle … sometimes true “love” means being strict, stern and harsh … we’re warned in the Bible that we should be wary of talk of peace (Jeremiah 6:14), but, since most don’t bother to read and study God’s Word, they fall into the trap of everything must be rosy, peachy and sweet to be in line with Christianity, because that is what “they” say, in the world … would be a good–no, great–idea for people to do a little reading and studying and find out what God says instead of following the words of the world and “they” ….
Good message, Mr. Massie.
Read the New Testament thoroughly. It is so short.
juliecamb: how about read the entire bible for in it we find wisdom and guidance…
mrdcleveland: my friend you have spoken my words many times over…I feel the same way…it is a lie of the devil to believe that nice-nice nonsense…God is love but He is love through Jesus Christ…
For many years I carried such guilt for disciplining my children firmly. I can’t tell you how many times I heard, “You get more bees with honey.” (SLAP!) It wasn’t until my two oldest sons left for the military that I realized I had done the right thing. What God tells us to do. Both of them have told me on numerous occasions how grateful they are for the correction and guidance that I served up! My son Jeffrey who is in the Army has even told me how they could use me down there for some of the out of line soldiers! LOL!!! Thank you Lord God Almighty for your Word! His Word is the ONLY WAY! And the namby pamby nonsense of time-outs and asking your 5 year old child what he or she thinks their punishment should be is just that: NONSENSE! God bless you Mr. Massie…
minnie: it is not only nonsense it is an offense and contributes to the breakdown of society…absolutes and a smack on the behind are not child cruelty…look what results when same are abandoned…
Thank you for this, Mr. Massie. There is nothing tougher than going “toe to toe” with youngsters pushing a parent’s limits to find out what their own are. And there is nothing more rewarding than having one’s children grow into responsible adults who then raise the next generation (grandkids!) to be responsible young people.
I don’t imagine there are any crooked tomato vines in your garden!
God bless you.
dajtodd: hahaha…there were/are absolutes in our household…including the absolute willingness to take corrective measures…God’s grace to you my friend…