Proverbs 12:1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates correction is stupid.

As a school teacher of over 30 years experience, I can say a hearty AMEN to this verse! However, it applies in many areas, and not just the academic. There are problems in expressing this verse, and the ideas behind it, in Japanese, because there is no single term that means “discipline,” but that doesn’t change the truth of the concept. Anyone who is in a teaching position for very long will soon be able to identify which students will absorb the material well and which will not, and it’s all a matter of attitude. There are of course personal­ity differences, but I feel the defining element is the home environ­ment. When parents value and model a love for learning of all sorts, the children are very likely to pick that up. That doesn’t mean trying to fit children in particular boxes at all; there are many kinds of learning, and a wise parent will seek and find what is appropriate for their child. The thing is, two children in the same home won’t have the same gifting, and so will approach learning differently. That is one of many things that make parenting a huge challenge! However, it has been noted that the difference between genius and simply high intelligence is mostly a matter of focus, which is another way of saying discipline. This applies in physical abilities as well; Olympic athletes are intensely disciplined when it comes to their training. If we really love our children, we will seek to teach them to focus on what is important for them, with the discipline that requires.

As a pastor (I teach for a living, since the church is too small to pay a salary) my primary focus at this point is spiritual, but this applies there, too. Those who love to get up every morning to read the Bible and pray advance very quickly in their spiritual growth. However, those who resent it when anyone makes suggestions as to how they could get closer to God don’t go very far at all. The thing is, we can learn discipline even as adults, even though it is much harder to do than for a child. It’s all a matter of choosing values, of deciding what is important. I cannot force Biblical values on anyone, but I can express them clearly and recommend them strongly. Those who choose Biblical values will indeed reap rich benefits.

Father, You know my hopes and prayers for the members of this congregation, because You laid them on my heart. I do pray that in this coming year that each individual, and consequently the church as a whole, would grow by leaps and bounds as we discover and move into Your plans for us, for the salvation of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!