Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness…

But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.
1 Timothy 4:7‭-‬10 NASB

http://bible.com/100/1ti.4.7-10.NASB

Parenting, 3 reasons why we must not give up!

Reason #1 why we must not give up. It is the will of God.  God has destined us for this purpose.  He brought both husband and wife together in marriage.  He enabled their bodies to conceive.  He appointed each child to the family.  If it is thus God’s will that we are the parents and they are the children and if God has thus called children to parent; then we must parent, and we must not give up.

Parenting is at times discouraging, frustrating and down right disheartening.  But God has appointed us to this.  He has appointed us as parents, weak, lacking wisdom, easily frustrated and tired as we are.  And He has appointed these children to us, foolish, stubborn, sinful and childish as they are.  And God never errs.  He never makes mistakes.  He did not forget that you were weak.  He did not forget that you too would struggle with sinful inclinations and responses.  He did not forget that you might be tired or that it might be hard.  He also did not forget or fail to realize how difficult this child would be.  Nor did not overlook that you would have many sleepless, teary eyed nights over this unrepentant, sometimes belligerent soul.  In fact He planned it all.  He planned it all first for His glory and next for the good of the two of you.  Yes, He gave you two to each other for the sanctification of each of you.  And perhaps if your child is yet to believe, then He has planned them first for your sanctification.

Furthermore in His mercy, in His plan, with His call, He provides greater grace.  For God always gives grace to the humble and He always gives grace sufficient for the weaknesses of those whom He calls to service.

Reason #2 why we must not give up. This is why children need parents.  Children are born sinners.  Thus their intellect, their capacity for “reason,” their ability to know their limitations and to discern right from wrong is all corrupt.  It is tainted with sin.  Thus children need guidance.  They need wisdom.  It is not inherent in them.  What is inherent is to sin.  What is inherent is to choose what is most pleasing to them alone, whether it is wise or right for them to do.  Children are never taught to sin.  They never need to be taught to cry for something that they want.  They know instinctively how to become angry when a perceived need is not met.  However they do need to be taught to delay gratification.  They need to be taught discipline.  They need to be taught that food is for the belly and not the belly for food.  They need to be taught that fun isn’t always safe.  They need to be taught the nature of action and consequence.   They need to be taught boundaries.  If parents do not teach them these things then their folly will ensnare them.  Their desires will overwhelm them until they become utter slaves to their lusts, whatever those lusts may be.  They need to be taught these things or else they will perceive no boundaries, either human or divine; thus incurring both the judgment of man and eventually the judgment of God.

Reason #3 why we must not give up. The Lord is patient with us.  If we would but count the times of our stubbornness, the times when we’ve scorned the reproof of the Lord, the times when we’ve ignored His chastening and rebuke, the times when we’ve returned to the vomit of our sin even in light of His discipline, the times when we’ve shaken our fists at God’s law in pursuit of our own passions…we would be ashamed at our lack of patience with our children.  For the Lord God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness towards us…and that so beautifully and bountifully displayed on a wooden cross on which He hung His Son to suffer, bleed and die for our sins while we were sinners and His enemies.  He did that for us.  And He rose Him from the dead and gave Him glory and the promise of new life and glory to us as well, though we were His enemies.  If God has thus done so for us, how can we not do so for our dear (sometimes wicked) sweet children, the fruit of the womb, the blessing from the Lord?

Certainly there are more reasons.  These have been the most outstanding in my own heart recently as I’ve considered this stewardship of parenthood which the Lord has thus given us.  May they be a blessing to your soul as well.  Remember these principles when you are at your last, remember that the Lord is Sovereign, even over the course of their young, seemingly uncontrolled lives, and often seek the Fountain of Grace whenever your cup runs empty.

Maranatha!

Pre Fathers Day Thoughts

Discipline and Disciple are in the same family.

Discipline is not merely punitive.  And its not a dirty word.  It is a necessary word to anyone who would call themselves a Disciple.  (For that matter it is a necessary word for anyone who would call themselves a parent, and who would claim to love their children).  Scripture teaches that the Lord loves those whom He disciplines (Heb 12, and Prov).  He wouldn’t bother with us if He didn’t love us.  He would allow us to go off on our own and to run headlong into sin, storing up wrath for ourselves for the day of wrath (Rom 1-2).  But He does love us and so He does discipline us for our good, to conform us to the image of His Son (Rom 8).

This is one of the second lessons that I have sought to teach my daughter.  The first was that of consequence.  That there is a consequence to every action.  Negative to those actions which are wrong and positive to those actions which are right.  If you obey, you will live.  If you disobey you will die.  If she doesn’t understand that then she will never understand the gospel.  I call this a second lesson because the next step in her cognitive development, as she grows to understand life more and her desire for “her way” grows stronger; she must understand that we will continue to discipline her, not for our own sakes, but for her own.  Because we love her (and ourselves obey the Lord’s command) and because we want her to live in God’s world, God’s way, we must discipline her.

If your children are not your disciples, then whose disciples will they be?  Will they teach themselves?  Will they be taught by the world?  If a teacher doesn’t discipline his disciple, is he really a disciple?  No.  Furthermore, if a parent doesn’t disciple or discipline, does he really love his child?  No.

I’m glad for my heavenly Father.  I am glad to know His love.  It doesn’t always “feel” good…but I know that it is good, and that I will be better for it.