Bible Reading: Exodus 37; Proverbs 13; John 16; Ephesians 6
Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
Have you ever heard someone say, "Spare the rod, spoil the child!"? What a perversion of Scripture! The Scripture is much more to the point. If you spare the rod, you hate your child! Think of the implications of that! Millions of Baby boomers read Dr. Spock's book and decided not to spank. Many Christian parents allowed the world to dictate their parenting practices instead of being discipled by the Word of God. Parenting is discipleship on both parts. The parents are following Jesus and learning what a godly marriage and a godly mom and dad are from the Word. The children are being disicpled by their parents to become fully devoted, reproducing followers of Christ.
Our heavenly Father uses chastening in our upbringing as his children.
Hebrews 12:6-8 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Let the weight and impact of that word strike home! If you belong to God he chastens you. He does it because he loves you. If you do not receive chastening, you are a bastard! If you don't spank your children to discipline them you hate them and are treating them as bastards!
If you love your children, you will learn from your loving Heavenly Father and chasten them betimes! Betimes means early when you can get their attention. Listen to the words of Jesus.
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
It is a loving parent that spanks their children. To love enough to point out sin and rebuke and chasten is true discipleship. See yourself as a discipler with your children. Learn from the best Father of all – God himself! Take them to the woodshed when they need it. If you obey the Lord, they will learn to obey you!
In Christ,
Rody
