Cultivate Intimacy With Jehovah

Welcome Jehovah's Discipline

Noting the importance of discipline in gaining intimacy with Jehovah, the king of Israel advises us: " The discipline of Jehovah, O my son, do not reject; and do not abhor his reproof, because the one whom Jehovah loves he reproves, even as a father does a son in whom he finds pleasure."-Proverbs 3:11, 12.

Discipline, though, may not be easy for us to accept. "No discipline seems for the present to be joyous, but grievous," wrote the apostle Paul, "yet afterward to those who have been trained by it, it yields peaceable fruit, namely righteousness." (Hebrews 12:11) Reproof and discipline are a necessary part of the training that brings us closer to God. Correction from Jehovah-whether we receive it from parents, through the Christian congregation, or by meditating on the Scriptures during our personal study-is an expression of his love for us. We are wise to welcome it.

Next time: Hold Fast To Wisdom And Discernment

Watchtower, 2000