Daily Devotional Guide, Today’s Reading – Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Theme: LOVE, FORGIVENESS, MERCY

Text: “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” – Proverbs 3:11-12.

Comment:  In the text for today, King Solomon gave the understanding that the person corrected, rebuked or reprimanded for his errors is one whom God loves. Therefore, when our errors are pointed out to us by way of chastisement, it is to enable us realize our mistake so as to recover ourselves from the path of error and retrace our steps to the path of God’s righteousness. King David said: “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.” – Psalm 32:5

It is rewarding for a worshipper of God to bear rebuke or chastening as St Paul stated, “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastenethnot?…Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” (Hebrews 12:7,11) Therefore, what is expected of us when we are chastised is repentance so as to gain God’s mercy and forgiveness by His grace.  In Revelation 3:19, Jesus Christ said “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

Parents who love their children will chastise them often. “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes”. – Proverbs 13:24; 29:17; Proverbs 22:15.