September 28 - LD 39, Day 5: Submitting to Correction

Hebrews 12:6: “For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.”

Not only must we submit to the good instruction of our parents, but also to their correction. Submitting to correction is not so easy. God Himself corrects us. Every Sunday, we come under the preaching of the Word, and in the course of that grand gospel message, we are also disciplined and corrected. We must submit to that correction too. We must turn from our iniquities. God chastens us by His Word. But He does so in love. That’s what the Bible tells us in Heb 12. “Whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth; and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.”

Love corrects. Parents who do not correct, show by their permissiveness that they do not love their children. Prov 13:24, “He that spareth the rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” Parents, that rod must be used so carefully! But it must be used! In obedience to God and for the proper correction of the child it must be used. And woe to those who think they know better than God!

But children must not only submit to that good instruction and correction, they must also patiently bear with the weaknesses and infirmities of their parents. Honour is required from us no matter the faults, infirmities and sins of those who are over us. Parents carry many weaknesses, too many to count. But children must patiently bear with their weaknesses and infirmities. That is also the calling of every one of us with respect to those who stand in authority over us.

We are quick to find fault with those who are in authority over us. But we walk in disobedience to God and sin greatly when we refuse patiently to bear with the weaknesses and infirmities of those whom God has appointed to positions of authority over us. What grief we bring to ourselves, what grievous consequences are reaped by such sin against the fifth commandment. Let us learn to exercise patience, remembering how much patience the Lord must exercise with us, in bearing our weaknesses and infirmities.