A charge to fathers

"Fathers, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to resentment], but rear them [tenderly] in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord." (Eph.6.4 Amp.)

I like the balanced way the Bible presents issues and solutions. For example, verse one of Ephesian instructed children to obey their parents but verse four gives this charge to fathers to not irritate and provoke their children.

I know most parents would not like this charge but God is no respecter of persons, He respects our individuality, our will. That means He won't do for one person what He won't do for the other person. He says do not exasperate them to resentment. Those are strong words.

Do not irritate your children...

Do not provoke your children to anger...

Do not exasperate them to resentment...

But says "rear them [tenderly]. It means to raise them tenderly.

How?

👉 In the training and discipline:  to train is to teach repeatedly until mastery. This requires discipline. And discipline does not mean corporal punishment but more importantly, training them to be regimental - to have the fortitude to go through what they need to go through, learn what need to learn. So it could be said of them that they are disciplined. We see this training and discipline in the household the Apostle Timothy grew up in.

"I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. (2Tim.1.5

👉 In counsel and admonition of the Lord. To accomplish training and discipline consistent counsel and admonition are required. Don't stop talking, don't stop correcting but when you do, do it in such a way not to irritate, provoke or exasperate them but rather in love and tenderly. There is almost no one corrected in love who does not heed the correction.

There is so much on our shoulders as parents, especially fathers. I wonder why fathers were picked out specifically. Because rearing children is a collaborative effort, not just the work of the mothers but fathers too.

Father train, discipline, counsel, and admonish your children. Do this as someone who is in the Lord - prepare them for the path and not the path for them. Train them to do the things, not do the things for them. (See Gen;18;19)

Good day,
And have a great day today,
EmmA (aka Mr. Lift)
@Liftemma

Comments

  1. MrsLiftApril 6, 2022 at 9:42 PM

    True. 🙌🏾

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownApril 6, 2022 at 9:45 PM

    Well said my brother, we pray God to give us the enablement to do our part in Lives of our children

    ReplyDelete

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