Reading:

Proverbs 23

We as parents must train as God instructs if we wish to train our children for God.

We must train as God would if we wish to have God-pleasing results.

But some of God’s ways and a few of His instructions in this regard are — well, what would you say about this one?

“Withhold not correction from the child: for if you beatest him with the rod, he shall not die” (Proverbs 23:13).

Beat the child with a rod?! That sounds mighty harsh and abusive. I wonder if the translators of my Spanish Bible found less “savage” terms than the translators of the King James Version….

OK, here’s my translation from Spanish: “Do not refuse to correct the child, because if you punish him with the rod, he won’t die.”

I do not believe God intends for this verse to be applied abusively.

Can you refer us to verses that show that?

[The Scriptures say in Proverbs 23:16 -- When thy lips speak right things]
from Proverbs 23:16

Wherein the Deliverer exercises His Lordship
Reading:

Mark 5:1-20

What a fantastic account of Christ’s divine power and authority in action!

What a fantastic account of evil and depravity defeated!

What a fantastic account of cleansing and restoration!

What a fantastic account of…surrender?

Yeah. This time notice the surrender in this event.

First, we have a sensible, logical, natural request upon the pending departure of the Deliverer:

“And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him” (Mark 5:18).

Second, we have the Deliverer exercising His Lordship and revealing some of His higher plan:

“Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee” (Mark 5:19).

Third, we have the delivered one surrendering:

“And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel” (Mark 5:20).

Is there a lesson in there for me?

[The Scriptures say in Mark 5:15 -- sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind]
from Mark 5:15