30
Learn to Confront
Tim Savage24 Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them. Proverbs 13
4 Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest. Proverbs 14
These 2 verses always remind me of a couple of my responsibilities as a father and leader. I tend to like smooth sailing. I like running fast and efficient. I don’t enjoy detours or obstacles; too often I see them as problems, not opportunities, I think they slow me down, rather than give me a new way to think about something. These verses remind me that the roles that God has given me require jumping hurdles and navigating obstacles along the race.
It would be so much easier if my kids (or my team) didn’t require discipline. It’s hard enough disciplining myself! But children require constant maintenance, consistent guidance and occasional confrontation. Ugh, confrontation – that’s the worst. I’m glad the Lord brought me through a season of confrontation many years ago when I started in ministry because I learned that most confrontations turn out positively. But I’ve also learned that I still don’t look forward to it. I have to continually make it a priority to love my children, my family and my ministry so much that I will discipline and confront as much as needed because it’s so easy just to ignore it.
Proverbs 14:4 helps me remember that the obstacles and hurdles are a necessary by-product of progress, work and effort. It takes a team of people to do church. Church is so important because it reaches the lost, spreads the good news and edifies the believers – it must be done. But when you bring people together – add pressure and mix in weariness (which can happen when you’re involved in anything worthwhile) – you are sure to have sparks. I have to see sparks, not always as a bad thing, but as necessary in a growing, thriving ministry.
These reminders are so helpful because my nature is to return to what is easy – the path of least resistance. I have to see the value in discipline, in confrontation and in obstacles, they are never easy, but they are so necessary.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for loving me so much, that You discipline me. May I have that same love for my family and my ministry.
In Jesus name,
Amen
