“We live in the woods, so we get very little prolonged sunlight in the
summer. But we love fresh tomatoes, so I decided to try growing them in pots
set in a few sunny spots. The plants started to grow right away and really
fast. I was thrilled—until I realized that their fast growth was due to their
efforts to reach out to the limited sunlight. By the time I figured out what
was happening, the vines were too heavy to support themselves. I found some
stakes, lifted the vines carefully, and fastened them in an upright position.
Even though I tried to be gentle, one of the twisted vines broke when I tried
to straighten it”( J.A. – american writer).
This reminded me that discipline must begin before character is
permanently bent and twisted.
Eli the priest had two sons whom he failed to discipline. When their
wickedness got so bad that he could no longer ignore it, he tried gentle rebuke
(1 Sam. 2:24-25). But it was too late, and God
announced the dire consequences: “I will judge [Eli’s] house forever for the
iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not
restrain them” (3:13).
Being straightened out is painful, but being left crooked will
ultimately hurt even more.
God’s love confronts and corrects. (RBC)
