April 10

Apr 10 - Today from Proverbs 10 we look at verse 17
"He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray."

A disciple is a learner. In the New Testament Greek, which is a very precise language, the word disciple indicates a learner who not only adds to their knowledge (in thought), but the knowledge is accompanied by action. Although the words disciple and discipline are unrelated in the Greek language, they are closely related in the English language. It takes discipline for a learner to apply knowledge -- particularly when that knowledge goes contrary to current views of life.
A disciple is more than a pupil. A disciple is a devoted follower. Disciples commit themselves to follow the teachings, principles and exhortations of the teacher. Our Teacher is Christ. To follow any other is foolish. There are disciples of scores of cult leaders, many who we may never have heard of. There is also more subtle discipleship, but just as foolish. There are disciples of the Republican and Democratic parties. There are disciples of rock stars. (Our teens are terribly pressured to be popular and readily emulate the super-popular amongst their peers). There are disciples of Hollywood (following the trends of the stars). As you can see, sometimes discipleship is a passing fancy and sometimes it is an extreme commitment. Those who make the extreme commitment have been given the 20th century, politically correct title of extremists.
As believers, our extreme commitment is to be to a Person and not an ideology. To the God who spoke on the fiery mountain and said, "You shall have no other gods before Me." (Exodus 20:3). To the God who came in the form of His Son, Jesus and said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24). In John 10 He says "His sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger." (verses 4 and 5). Yes, Christians are to be extremists; wholly devoted to learning from and following after the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He also gave us a new commandment – to love one another. "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35). Christian extremism is to be an example of extreme love, following after the teaching and example of Jesus.
Those who ignore correction lead others astray. There are also those who refuse to be corrected by God’s Word. In their self-formed opinions they seek to influence others of their viewpoint. Those who may be weak in conviction then blindly follow the viewpoint presented and are led astray. The 'leaders' in this case choose to be blind. (There is none so blind as he who will not see.) The 'followers' choose not to seek out the proof as found in God's Word, or even in natural law, and end up following the faulty reasoning of the leader. Jesus says in Matthew 15:14, "If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into the pit." Even though the leader is the one in true rebellion, the follower will not be saved the consequences. The follower refused to seek the proof of the matter and will end up in the same place. We are not necessarily speaking of hell here. There are a lot of heaven-bound believers who are experiencing pitfalls in life because they are following the reasoning of men rather than the evidences presented in God's Word.
Wisdom chooses to heed the disciplines of God's Word, and to be quick to repent when the proof presented by God's Word contradicts the viewpoint currently held. It is the way of discipleship.