Bible Reading: Luke 9:51-56
“What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?” (1 Corinthians 4:21)
I was clearing some overgrowth with a tractor and mower when I saw a blur of movement at the edge of my vision. An instant later, pain exploded in my face as a yellow jacket plunged her stinger into my flesh, injected her venom, and zoomed away—all within a fraction of a second. Her plan was simple, her strategy uncomplicated: she wanted me out of her territory, so she brought me an incentive to comply. And comply I did! I had one overpowering desire: to put the greatest possible distance between me and her in the shortest possible time.
In the reading above, James and John seemed to think a yellow jacket strategy would work well with the Samaritans. They thought the ideal response to the Samaritans’ cold reception would be to call down fire from heaven on the offenders. But Jesus did not agree. “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of,” He said.
How is it with our families? Are we ever tempted to use the yellow jacket strategy there? A proper balance of firmness and love will yield the wholesome fruit of godly discipline. If either of these elements is missing, the discipline will not have the desired result. With the yellow jacket I encountered, I got the distinct impression that she was a little short on love. Though I cooperated and left her territory, she is now more my enemy than ever.
On the other hand, love without firmness sends the signal that we are not committed to the requirement of obedience. Our goal in discipline is to bring about willing, cheerful, and respectful obedience. That is a level of cooperation the yellow jacket will never achieve.
A son may be spirited yet be submissive.
A dad must be loving but never permissive.
From Paws on My Porch, by Gary Miller
© 2015 TGS International, PO Box 355, Berlin, Ohio 44610
Used by permission
