May 23, 2026 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Proverbs
Proverbs 23:13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. 14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
Correction administered without wrath, or malice, or in severity but with love will be more profitable to a child than to let that child grow up without it. Growing up without correction leads to chaos and that individual’s life will be filled with self, without regard for others. Eventually, without present or immediate correction, their life will be filled with unsubdued self seeking pleasure and often at the expense of others.
On the other side, God admonishes the father in restraint when it comes to correction. Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
There must be a balance in correction. Correction that is too harsh may bring rebellion and correction that is too little may bring forth disrespect.
We are reminded of several men in the scriptures who did not correct their children, as a result their children were corrected by God. One in point is Eli; Eli, the high priest of Israel, in 1 Samuel chapter 2 had two sons who grew up without restraint. They polluted the worship of God in the temple. They also committed adultery with the women who came to worship at the temple.
Not all pastors and preachers and leaders of modern churches are godly. They may be just like Eli’s sons in not knowing the Lord and trying to do the service of God with a heart of Belial. (Belial means wicked, ungodly and naughty.)
1Samuel 2:12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.
Although Eli spoke with his sons, he did not correct them. As a result God slew them.
1Samuel 2:22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. 24 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD'S people to transgress. 25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.
A child who is brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord will have a better chance of living a life that pleases the Lord and ultimately the parents.
Proverbs 29:17 Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.
To have a son or daughter walking in righteousness is a delightful thing indeed. There are no worries and there is rest to the soul of the parents.
The Lord corrects His children. (Read Hebrews chapter 12:6-15)
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
