When children rebel against their parents, the Lord commands the parents to use the rod of correction to bring them into subjection. A parent who is unwilling to discipline their child is not showing that child love: “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him” (Proverbs 13:24 [RSV]). This is why David said in Psalm 23:4 [RSV], “Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me,” because David understood that God disciplined him because God loved him. God’s discipline of David was a constant reminder to David of God’s enduring love for him, even when David had gone astray. And we know this has been carried over into the New Covenant because we are reminded by the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews, 5. My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage when you are punished by Him. 6. For the Lord disciplines him whom He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives (Hebrews 12:5-6 [RSV]). A child who is disciplined properly knows that he is loved, just as we know we are loved when God chastens us. A child who is taught discipline learns to seek pardon from his parents. As he grows older, he will then seek pardon from God for his sins. He will have a longing in his heart to be right with God through the imparted righteousness that comes from our obedience to Christ. He will long to be conformed to the image of Christ for as long as he has breath in his body: “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2 [RSV]).
Many parents today do not realize their responsibility and, therefore, are not seeking wisdom from God and His word to train their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. They just do not realize that God has placed them in the home to give direction to their children.
In the Ten Commandments God plainly says that every father must administer the rule of God within his own home. Exodus 20:8-10 says, 8. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates.
Do you realize what your responsibility is, parents, especially you fathers? If God tells the children to obey their parents, He is telling you as parents to give them positive, not arbitrary, directions. Give them biblical directions. Children, please listen to your parents! They do not correct you just because they are angry with you. They love you! They love you enough to tell you what is true. The man who loves you the most is the man who tells you the most truth about yourself. Never forget that.
May the Lord bless you and your family!
Many parents today do not realize their responsibility and, therefore, are not seeking wisdom from God and His word to train their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. They just do not realize that God has placed them in the home to give direction to their children.
In the Ten Commandments God plainly says that every father must administer the rule of God within his own home. Exodus 20:8-10 says, 8. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates.
Do you realize what your responsibility is, parents, especially you fathers? If God tells the children to obey their parents, He is telling you as parents to give them positive, not arbitrary, directions. Give them biblical directions. Children, please listen to your parents! They do not correct you just because they are angry with you. They love you! They love you enough to tell you what is true. The man who loves you the most is the man who tells you the most truth about yourself. Never forget that.
May the Lord bless you and your family!
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