IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Whoever Loves Discipline

Date: Apr. 1, 2017

Passage

Proverbs 12:1-14  (ESV)

  Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but he who hates reproof is stupid.
  A good man obtains favor from the LORD,
    but a man of evil devices he condemns.
  No one is established by wickedness,
    but the root of the righteous will never be moved.
  An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
    but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.
  The thoughts of the righteous are just;
    the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
  The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
    but the mouth of the upright delivers them.
  The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
    but the house of the righteous will stand.
  A man is commended according to his good sense,
    but one of twisted mind is despised.
  Better to be lowly and have a servant
    than to play the great man and lack bread.
10   Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
    but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.
11   Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
    but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.
12   Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers,
    but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
13   An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
    but the righteous escapes from trouble.
14   From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good,
    and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 12:1

  Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
    but he who hates reproof is stupid.

1. Love discipline (1-8)

Discipline is painful and hard. It's against our sinful nature (Ro 7:19, 20). It requires self-denial. But even Jesus learned through discipline (He 5:8), and God disciplines those he loves for their own good (He 12:6, 10). Those who love discipline receive God's favor; they are rooted and built up (3, 7). A wife who loves discipline has a noble character and brings honor to her husband (4). Those who love discipline grow in discernment to act justly (5). Those who love discipline control their tongues and speak what is helpful (6). They are praised for their prudence (8). Discipline makes a person mature and stable. We must repent hating discipline and decide to love discipline.

2. The work of their hands brings them reward (9-14)

People who love discipline are free from vanity and pretense; they live a productive lifestyle not caring how humble it looks (9). They are caring and responsible stewards of their possessions (10-11). They are not shaken by troubles or get involved in quarrels (12-13). They speak life-giving words to others; they are so blessed to see the rewards of the work of their hands (14). The fruits of discipline are so rich and desirable.

Prayer: Lord, I repent that I hate discipline. Help me to love discipline, mature, and see the changes discipline brings.

One Word: Love discipline and see its rewards

Daily Bread

Fallen Babylon

Revelation 18:1-24

Key Verse: 18:4

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