Dear Readers and Listeners, Friends in Jesus Christ,
The watchword for today is taken from the Book of Proverbs, Chapter 3 verse 11, “Do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof,” (NRSVB). The original meaning of the word discipline is tied into the understanding of learning and being taught. Discipline as such can then be seen as God teaching us, while we are learning from him, just as Jesus taught his disciples, they who were the followers of his teachings and learnings. When we interpret our watchword using this key, we understand discipline as instruction from God, for our good. We apply his teaching in order to be followers of him. The meaning of the word reproof can then be understood as training and correction in what we are studying and learning as we journey with the Lord. The writer of this proverb instructs us not be fearful of God’s correction of our application of what we have learnt from studying his word. This verse is a verse of hope and not a verse to cause us to despair of our misinterpretation and misunderstanding of God’s word. We are assured that God honours our studying of his word and our efforts to apply his word in our lives. He will shine his light of understanding through the Holy Spirit on us and he will correct those matters where we have not interpreted his words correctly.
When Jesus taught his disciples he used parables to teach them. He constantly asked them if they understood what he was teaching them. Sometimes they were totally overwhelmed by what they heard and sometimes they understood immediately, for they were slowly, but surely being taught and trained in the discipline of discipleship, namely the teaching and ways of their Master. In the world of studies one can say that one has studied in the discipline of mathematics of music, meaning that you have been trained to think and apply the tools of that branch of learning or study. Jesus taught his disciples, and trained them to think, and apply the tools of the branch of study namely “proclaiming the kingdom of God.” Jesus told his disciples, but Jesus also tells us today, when we study and fail to understand how the world we live in, and the world of the kingdom of God differ so much: “I have still many things to say to you, but you are not able to bear them or to take them upon you or to grasp them now. But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the Truth. For He will not speak His own message, but He will tell whatever He hears from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him, and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come, the things that will happen in the future,” John Chapter 16 verse 13, (Amplified Bible).
We live in the time following the New Testament Pentecost, the Spirit of the Lord, the Holy Spirit, has been given to the Church and her people. This is the Spirit that helps and interprets for us, as we study the discipline of the “Kingdom of God on earth and in Heaven.” We cannot understand everything that scripture reveals, nor can we make sense of the world completely. However, we are in good company, for Jesus’s disciples suffered likewise. Jesus comforted them, as he comforts us, and says that we are not able to grasp things now, but when it is the right time, the Spirit will reveal to us what we need to know for the present and concerning the future.
The Apostle James tells us of the power of the wisdom that we acquire as we study the discipline of God’s Word and his Kingdom, learn his word, and receive reproof or correction of the Holy Spirit, “The Wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruit, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy,” James, Chapter 3 verse 17, (NRSVB). Learning and studying the word of God gives us unspeakable peace from above, it teaches us to yield and listen, to be full of mercy for those who understand things differently, and to bear good fruit, despite the circumstance where we find ourselves. The word of God is truth and is not influenced in any manner other than by the truth, therefore it is without partiality and hypocrisy. God, our loving God, desires for his children to immerse themselves in the discipline of his word, for the greatest commandment is love the Lord, your God, and your neighbour as yourself.
Father, we thank you that you have come close to us and have dwelled with us to teach us your words and your ways, help us to heed and yield your instruction and follow the discipline of “The Kingdom of God,” this we pray in the Name of our Lord Jesus, Amen.