Proverbs 20:30

"Stripes that wound scour away evil, And strokes reach the innermost parts"
(Proverbs 20:30 NASB). Discipline on the outside can change what is on the
inside. While others proverbs do talk about using corporeal punishment for
discipling our children (cf. Proverbs 13:24), this one does not. This
particular proverb is talking about correcting criminals (i.e., those
committing evil) not children and the discipline talked about is that which
would bruise and tear the flesh (think flogging). This is severe discipline
for a severe problem. Remember, some of the advice Solomon is passing on to
his son is how to be a good king. It is not our job to punish criminals or
to meet out this kind of punishment, that is for the government to do as it
sees fit (cf. Romans 13:1-4), but there is a principle we can apply to
raising our children. Disciplining our children is not just about correcting
behavior, it is about forming character. This is something we need to start
early. If we correct problems and attitudes when they are small, it only
takes a little discipline. If the problem is allowed to fester, correction
will become much more difficult. When we fail to discipline our children, it
is usually because of our own lack of discipline or misinformation. The lazy
parent thinks the problem is not too severe and it doesn't seem worth the
effort it takes to correct the child just ignores the problem. The
misinformed parent sees misbehavior as "kids being kids" and lets the
problem slide. Whether from laziness or misinformation, ultimately this is
unloving behavior and does the child a great disservice. Let's show our
children love, not laziness.

by Jeremy Sprouse

Spiritual maturity

The pursuit of spiritual maturity should be the goal of all Christians. We must be transformed as we learn to walk in Christ (Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:1).

As preachers and teachers, we must help our fellow Christians grow spiritually by guiding them through God's Word and teaching them to learn on their own.

Spiritual growth is only possible through Christ. His grace, mercy and longsuffering empower us to endure and the Word guides us through the darkness (John 8:12).

Immersing ourselves in the power of Scripture, we learn the dangerous methods of Satan and how to overcome them (2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:10-17). Christianity is about learning to make sound decisions as we apply God's Word in the small and large moments of life.

The Holy Spirit lays out in the Bible the perpetual conflict between the spiritual and the fleshly (1 Corinthians 2:13-16). For example, the spiritual will have us love our enemies while the fleshly has us pursuing vengeance (Matthew 5:44).

Jesus consistently exposed this dichotomy. While Jesus taught spiritual lessons, the crowds heard only the fleshly and misunderstood what he was saying (John 6:26-67). The apostles were not immune to this weakness, either (Acts 1:6).

• Will we do God's will or our own?
• Will we follow the flesh or walk in the spirit?
• Will we pursue the spiritual or the pleasurable?
• Will we invest in the spiritual or the fleshly world?

Scripture is filled with teachings on how to discern between the spiritual and the fleshly (John 13; Romans 7:11-25; 14:1-8; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, et al). We learn to place a greater emphasis on our soul and less on our earthly possessions (Matthew 6:19-21).

"When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, 'Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me'" (Mark 8:34, NKJV).

The Gospel of John is saturated with this teaching, and we should do a diligent study of the text because our soul is far more important than anything else we have (Matthew 16:26).

by Richard Mansel, managing editor - http://forthright.net/2013/03/26/spiritual-maturity/

 

Proverbs 20:15

"There is gold, and an abundance of jewels; But the lips of knowledge are a
more precious thing" (Proverbs 20:15 NASB). There are many things that are
valuable in this world, but wisdom is above them all. Yet, people in general
are more eager to obtain earthly riches that spiritual wisdom. Our
priorities should be hearing and speaking wise words rather than laying up
treasures on earth.

by Jeremy Sprouse

Proverbs 20:14

"'Bad, bad,' says the buyer, But when he goes his way, then he boasts"
(Proverbs 20:14 NASB). People are especially prone to lying and
misrepresenting the facts when it comes to money. This proverb is an
observation or a warning to an inexperienced trader on what happens when
people trade and haggle over items. The buyer obviously wants to get a lower
price so he makes the product out to be no good, but secretly he is pleased
with the deal and lets all his friends know about it. Even today, when we
find a good deal we often like to talk about it. Since we do not haggle much
today, we normally face the reverse of this proverb--the sellers claiming
their products are better than they are in reality. I'm continually amazed
how every single car is receiving some kind of best in class award from
somebody or other. There are bottles marked fresh mountain spring water that
come from tap water. Many products have unverified and falsified claim. When
it comes down to it, almost every commercial is a lie because it is trying
to convince us we need something we don't really need. Often, we would like
to have it, but we don't need it. Don't let commercials make you discontent
with what you have. Their products aren't as good as they say they are
anyways.

Jeremy Sprouse

Proverbs 20:11

"It is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes himself If his conduct is pure
and right" (Proverbs 20:11 NASB). It it not our fashion sense or our ability
to brag that distinguishes ourselves, but what we do. Just as hearing the
word without obeying it is useless (cf. Matthew 7:24-27, James 1:22-25), so
is professing what you are going to do without actually doing it. It isn't
just action that we need to be paying attention to, however, but what
actions we are doing. Doing what is pure and right is what will distinguish
us from the rest of the world. Anything else will show us to be following
the crowd.

Jeremy Sprouse