WEDNESDAY January 15, 2025
An Exhortation to Fathers
Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
Colossians 3:21
The father-child relationship needs to be guarded. As a dad, guard against heavy-handedness. Fathers, pay attention to what is being said here in the Scriptures. Too many fathers become like drill sergeants. They shout orders to their children, who can become easily discouraged. Make sure your discipline is not unreasonable. Do not frustrate and exasperate your children by asking them to do something that is too hard for them to do. Overbearing fathers can drive their children away.
When it comes to discipline, do not be angry in your approach. Be a loving and patient father. Allow your children to make mistakes so they can learn from them. Another mistake fathers make with older children is to become overly protective. Teenagers especially need freedom to grow and to mature. There are times when you just need to trust them.
Parents are not to disrespect their children; otherwise, their children will learn to disrespect them. It will cause them to rebel against their parents in their teenage years. Understand that your children need a great deal of encouragement. If you discourage and criticize them often, it will make them feel like they cannot do anything right. They are left to think they cannot please you. Your negativity will cause them to be depressed. Understand your children’s emotional needs––love and care for them.
A father needs to be a priest in his home. In other words, you have a duty to intercede on behalf of your children. Fathers play a vital role in molding and shaping their children’s character. Be an example to them so they can come to know the Lord. Seriously, I pray what has been discussed will not fall onto deaf ears. May God’s Word encourage fathers to strive to do better. In humility, repent for any wrongdoing in the way you have handled your children. God will help you to become a good and loving father.
Train up a child in the way he should go–– but be sure you go that way yourself.
~C.H. Spurgeon~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
