To Reprove And Correct When Limits Are Exceeded

discipline - To Reprove and Correct When Limits Are Exceeded

Do not withhold correction. Proverbs 23:13

God sets limits for me (David) because He doesn’t want me to get hurt by the painful effects of my sin. God establishes boundaries for us to abide by so that we don’t miss out on the blessings He has in store for us. He sets limits so that we can have a clear set of instructions on how to maintain our intimacy with Him. God doesn’t want me to cross His boundaries because He doesn’t want me to lose fellowship with Him.

Think for a moment on how the discipline of our children mirrors the heart of God when it comes to boundaries. When I tell our son, Eric, to ride his bike on the sidewalk and not on the street, I’ve set a boundary. I didn’t set that boundary because I wanted to spoil his fun or assert my authority. I gave my son that boundary because I don’t want to see him hurt. I don’t want him to lose out on the blessing of riding his bike safely. I don’t want to lose my relationship with him because he has been physically injured or killed.

God’s heart is much the same. He didn’t give us the Ten Commandments or the other rules and laws in Scripture because He wants to spoil our fun or because He wants to assert His authority. He loves us and deeply wants to protect us from harm—even from ourselves.

God sets rules and boundaries in all areas of our lives, and that includes our marriages. Scripture gives us instructions, rules, and boundaries for us to live within when it comes to marriage and family.

What marital boundaries has God set in Scripture for you and your spouse?