Monday, February 16, 2009

Ephesians 6:4 and commentary

"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

The Believers Bible Commentary (by William MacDonald) opens up this scripture by saying, " The instructions to children are now balanced with advice to fathers. they should not provoke their children to anger with unreasonable demands, with undue harshness, with constant nagging. Rather children should be nurtured in the TRAINING and ADMONITION of the Lord. Training means discipline and correction, and may be verbal or corporal. Admonition means warning, rebuke and reproof. Child-training should be "in the Lord", that is, carried out in accordance with His Will as revealed in the Bible by one who acts as his representative."

Susanna Wesley, the mother of seventeen children, including John and Charles, once wrote:

"The parent who studies to subdue self-will in his child, works together with God in the renewing and saving of a soul. The parent who indulges it, does the Devil's work, makes religion impractical, salvation unattainable, and does all that in him lies to damn his child, soul and body forever."

I also personally believe that Mother's could benefit from this scripture, as well as the commentary information.

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