Wednesday 10 July 2013

Background

In our house there is 'the naughty step'. And many othersparents have the same (or something similar). It's where the childsits a while (typically a minute of each year of their age), tothink about what they have done. For many, it's an effective methodof discipline, as a young child learns boundaries and what is (andwhat is not) acceptable behaviour.

But the naughty step is only one part of a process of obedienceand discipline. There is the need for written rules (or pictures)reminding the child of what is expected of them. And there is averbal warning or reminder to the child to change their behaviour,with the step being the consequence if it is ignored.

Can you see any parallels in today's with the way God's treatsGod's own children? Verses 18-21 are the written reminders; verses26-28 are the warning.

Whether you are a young child learning appropriate behaviour, orone of God's children learning the way to live, you discover thatactions have consequences - good or bad.

To Ponder

• How do you respond to discipline, whether it be humandiscipline or God's discipline?

• How easy do you find it to discipline others -either in a work,a family or a church context? Why?

• At the end of a child sitting on the naughty step, the parentreminds the child why they were put there and the child has to havesome understanding of this and say sorry. It ends with the parentand the child having a hug or cuddle, so a right relationship isrestored. What are the parallels in your faith and relationshipwith God?