The Key to a Healthy Relationship, Part 2

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Fathers are given two commands concerning their children.  1.)  Fathers are to resist the urge to provoke their children to anger.  Colossians 3:21NLT says Fathers do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged. There is a difference between punishment and correction.  Punishment without correction, however, has no value.  Punishment that is cruel or administered in anger devalues the child’s self-worth.   Correction that includes love, instruction, consistency and appropriate discipline educates the child and sets him/her on the right path.  2.)  Fathers are commanded to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the LORD.  Nurture in the Greek means to tutor, for example: educate, or train through disciplinary correction – chastisement.  Admonition in the Greek means to call attention to, a mild rebuke or warning.  Both are needed for proper development.  Children will do what they see their fathers do.  It’s called training.  They will follow your lead.  Be careful where you are leading them.  In other words, train them to do things according to God’s word.  They are looking at you as the example in their lives.

Scripture References:  Ephesians 4:4; Colossians 3:21; Proverbs 22:6; I John 4:16; I Corinthians 13:4-8

Prayer for today:  Father, you said to train up a child in the way he should go… Help all parent(s) to treat their children with love, training, correcting, and disciplining them appropriately as needed to set them on the right course for life.   In JESUS name, AMEN.

Whatever you must do today, there is a grace for that.  Accept the grace and make it a sweatless day.

Love

Dianne