The captain of a battleship at sea noted a light on a dangerous collision course. The captain immediately ordered his signalman to signal: “We are on a collision course. I advise you to change course 20 degrees east.”
Back came a response from the other ship: “You change course 20 degrees west.”
Agitated by the arrogance of the response, the captain asked his signalman to shoot out another message: “I am a captain, you change course 20 degrees east.”
Back came the second response: “I am a second class seaman, you had still better change course 20 degrees west.”
The captain was furious this time! He shouted to the signalman to send back a final message: “I am a battleship. Change course 20 degrees east right now!:
Back came the flashing response: “I am a lighthouse.”
The captain duly changed course.
My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t be upset when he corrects you.
For the Lord corrects those he loves,
just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. Proverbs 3:11-12
I never noticed in this familiar verse that we have the option to reject, or in some translations ignore the discipline of the Lord. Of course, we do. God honors the free will he gave us. His disciplines and corrections are meant to put us ” back on course.” We can moan about what hurts and not recognize it as a correction. We can expect the problems or obstacles to “change course” and leave us alone.
It’s unwise to do so. God is our lighthouse and we ignore him at the risk of disaster.
Lord make me wise enough to recognize your discipline and correction and faithful enough to properly respond.
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