Rebuke?

For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
- Proverbs 3:12.

When a father loves a child, he will always rebuke him/her eg., do this, don't do that etc,. To the child and others around that aren't sensitive, will assume, he is just being mean to the child. I know some take things to the extreme. But, the truth is, he want the best from and for the child.

In the lives of the Israelite for example, when they were very close to God, He still rebuke them, sometimes it can result to lost of live(s), as the case may be, that is, when someone transgress.
When He is not pleased with their activities at all, after several rebuke, another nation will just evade Israel, kill, take them captive and take away their spoils. But, ones they repent, He is found in them and restore them back.

Child! If your father claim to love you and does not rebuke you, you should be afraid of that father. Seriously, you should be concern. No matter how obedient and discipline we are, there are few times we slip, and should be brought to order(of course, I don't mean with rod, when it is not necessary, but some needs it). However, it is another thing altogether, if the child is even learning anything at all!
"He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes." Proverbs 13:24. 

And Proverbs 29:15 says, 
"The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame." see also, Proverbs 23:13-14.
God is a loving Father, He wouldn't watch us mess up, when we can do better.

Have a fruitful week, in this month of August...

Jesus is Lord!

Mark E. Airononi