Discipline is the order of GOD's government, and parents are His dispensers of it to their children.

"Word Pictures" for Our Imagination

Free Printable Devotional Sheets Wednesday, July 16th

Today's Daily Verse is found in Proverbs 29.15

"To discipline a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child."        - New Living Translation

It is a not a mystery that correction and discipline are good for children. If they have their own way, they will make their mothers ashamed of them..

The issue is - how to do it wisely...

• Be committed to the responsibility. It is the responsibility of the parents, not the school, daycare center, or anyone else. If your child cannot come to the point of obeying the parents, then they will have to be submit to the courts, or some higher authority later...but, the parents can, and should do the job in the least disruptive way - in the home...starting as early as possible
  

• Work on the level of the child. Your child is not an adult. Do not ask the child to do anything he/she cannot reasonably do or understand. Consider how frustrating it is as a parent when asked to do stuff beyond your ability. Let your child know that you are working with them at their level...be calm
  

• Before considering spanking or any other form of physical discipline, work with their value system of toys, freedom. Speak kindly, "I am telling you not to touch that, because... and, we do this because...
  

• Teach the child to obey your requests immediately...let them know exactly what the consequences will be - every time. Be consistent. If you can successfully teach and explain the kinds of behavior you'd like them to avoid, they will be more likely to buy into it, applying the reasoning to each situation that comes along.

No anger. Give "reproof" first. Give reasoning the chance. Then, if needed, the "rod" option may have to be considered where rebellion becomes the issue.

How did Eli do raising his children?

Eli failed...

1 Samuel 2.22 "Now Eli was very old, but he was aware of what his sons were doing to the people of Israel. He knew, for instance, that his sons were seducing the young women who assisted at the entrance of the Tabernacle." v.25 "If someone sins against another person, God can mediate for the guilty party. But if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede?” But Eli’s sons wouldn’t listen to their father, for the Lord was already planning to put them to death 3.13 "I have warned him that judgment is coming upon his family forever, because his sons are blaspheming God and he hasn’t disciplined them."

GOD disciplines us...

Manasseh

2 Chronicles 33.12 "But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the Lord his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors."

David

Psalms 119.67 "I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word.

vs 71 "My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees."

vs 75 "I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair; you disciplined me because I needed it."

The Prodigal Son

Luke 15.13-17 " “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger!"

Micah 6.9 "Fear the Lord if you are wise! His voice calls to everyone in Jerusalem:
“The armies of destruction are coming; the Lord is sending them."

The purpose is to drive foolishness away...

Some say that children will grow out of disobeying

Time of itself mends nothing!

We do not just grow out of evil. A corrupt and wayward will tends to get more deadly as time passes. The poison does not always appear at first. A child "left to himself will have loosened reins, and be impulsively driven by his own will.

Adonijah

Adonijah 1 Kings 1.6-9 "Now his father, King David, had never disciplined him at any time, even by asking, “Why are you doing that?” Adonijah had been born next after Absalom, and he was very handsome. 7 Adonijah took Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar the priest into his confidence, and they agreed to help him become king. 8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s personal bodyguard refused to support Adonijah. 9 Adonijah went to the Stone of Zoheleth near the spring of En-rogel, where he sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened calves. He invited all his brothers—the other sons of King David—and all the royal officials of Judah. vs. 2.23-25 "Then King Solomon made a vow before the Lord: “May God strike me and even kill me if Adonijah has not sealed his fate with this request. 24 The Lord has confirmed me and placed me on the throne of my father, David; he has established my dynasty as he promised. So as surely as the Lord lives, Adonijah will die this very day!” 25 So King Solomon ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada to execute him, and Adonijah was put to death."

Not this...

Absolutely Not this...

Not this...

This is more like it!

What greater neglect of parental obligation, than a child left to himself...

Now, the child rules.

Parental influence is lost.

Instead of "the wise son, that makes a glad father" - the unavoidable result is the "shame he will bring to his mother."

Hebrews 12.9-11

"Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

The Bottom Line

"Without a wise and firm control, the parent is miserable, the child is ruined!"

See you tomorrow...

In the meantime:

May I encourage you to call or email someone and invite them to join us in our daily study in Proverbs...