Rejection

(Proverbs 3:11 KJV)  My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

At what point do we “despise” (reject NASB) (3988a) a truth or a standard?  Is it immediate or gradual?  I am sure that both apply depending on the situation.  Think of all the people you know who have “come” to the Lord and all is wonderful.  Then they begin to realize that being a follower of Jesus is not just a temporary or part time affair.  Jesus wants all of you.  They begin to understand that they cannot continue living the way they have always lived.  It doesn’t even need to be because someone confronts them.  Usually it is the work of the Holy Spirit in their inner man.

And they begin to slowly reject the things of God.  The word has the idea of contempt or despising.  They find that their love of the world begins to trump their love of God. 

So?  Keep alert to the danger.  Make up your mind which way you are going to go.  If you are going to live in sin you might as well stop wasting your time.  If you are going to go the way of righteousness, don’t risk falling away.  Every day counts.