YOUR ROD AND STAFF
Kingdom Kids devotions authorize Jesus’ LORDship over our lives.
Psalm 23:4: “Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
A shepherd’s rod is a weapon. This rod can be swung or thrown, whacking disruptive sheep or threaten wild animals.
Besides the opening passage from Psalm 23, King David also wrote Psalms acknowledging his sin, repenting, and expecting discipline. See the lesson linked below for rod and staff discipline and care.
For those who never fetched a hairbrush or picked willow branches to use as a spanking or whipping tool, discipline doesn’t sound painful. But as the pain recedes—the kid whimpers a private pity party—remembering what bought such anger. Maybe that should never be repeated in the future?
Hebrews chapter 12 explains discipline’s value. Verses 5-6 says, “And you have forgotten the word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: ‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and punishes everyone He accepts as sons.’”
Verses 7a-8 says, “Endure hardship [trials] as discipline; God is treating you as sons. … If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate ([ill-le-JIT-a-mat] means unlawful), children and not true sons.”
Verses 10-11 show God’s reason for discipline, “Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; But God disciplines us for our own good that we might share in His holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by."
Even Jesus says in Revelation 3:19, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.”
If the rod stands for discipline, then the staff must stand for care.
Take Home Nugget
A shepherd’s staff looks like a walking stick ending in a weird U-shaped crook. A lamb freed by the crook lacks human scent so its ewe (mom) won’t reject her lamb. The long staff gets sheep’s attention from a distance. It can nudge, gently steering sheep toward safety. The crook can free sheep’s wool from entangling brambles and thistles.
“Oxymoron” labels what seems impossible. Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide. Whether as a liquid like water, or a solid like white nuggets, dry ice freezes whatever it touches. At room temperature, ice evaporates to invisible CO2 gas.
A shepherd’s rod and staff are an oxymoron. One tool is both a weapon and also what renders care. Dry ice freezes, then the evidence disappears. Ignorant sheep are steered safely out of danger.
Holy Father, thank You for moms. What comfort knowing that You steer us back to safety. Mothers love us the same way! Amen.
Adopted from “He Corrects Me” by Pastor Mark Jeske. April 23, 2018. www.timeOfGrace.org. Your Daily Grace Moment.
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
J.D. Griffith
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