”4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”
Ephesians 6:4
Do you have children?
Today, I was led to reflect on a vital aspect of our Christian journey: parenting. Our scripture for today is Ephesians 6:4, which provides profound wisdom on how we are to raise our children.
Parenting is one of the most significant responsibilities God entrusts to us. Our children are blessings, and with them comes the duty to nurture, guide, and instruct them in the ways of the Lord. This verse from Ephesians gives us two crucial commands for parenting: what to avoid and what to embrace.
1. Avoid Provoking Your Children to Anger
The first part of Ephesians 6:4 is a warning: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger.” The word “fathers” here can be extended to include all parents, highlighting the significant influence both mothers and fathers have over their children’s emotional well-being.
Provoking children to anger can take many forms: unreasonable expectations, harsh discipline, constant criticism, neglect, or favoritism. When we provoke our children, we risk damaging their spirit and leading them away from the faith. Instead of feeling loved and valued, they may feel resentment and bitterness.
As parents, we must strive to create a nurturing environment. This means being patient, understanding, and fair. It means listening to our children and valuing their feelings and opinions. It means disciplining with love and never out of anger.
2. Bringing Them Up in the Discipline and Instruction of the Lord
The second part of Ephesians 6:4 gives us the positive command: “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
Discipline
Discipline, in the biblical sense, is not about punishment but about guidance and correction. Proverbs 22:6 tells us, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Discipline involves setting boundaries, teaching right from wrong, and helping our children understand the consequences of their actions.
Effective discipline requires consistency and fairness. It means establishing clear rules and following through with appropriate consequences when those rules are broken. However, it also means being flexible and recognizing when to show grace and mercy.
Instruction
Instruction involves teaching our children about God, His love, and His commandments. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 instructs us to impress God’s commandments on our children and talk about them constantly. This teaching can be through reading the Bible together, praying as a family, and discussing how to apply biblical principles in daily life.
More than just words, instruction is also about modeling. Children learn a great deal from observing their parents. They notice how we treat others, how we handle stress, and how we prioritize our time. As parents, our actions should reflect the teachings of Christ, providing a living example for our children to follow.
Encouraging Faith
To raise our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord also means encouraging their personal faith. Encourage them to ask questions, express doubts, and explore their faith journey. Attend church together, participate in service projects, and create opportunities for spiritual growth.
Love as the Foundation
At the core of effective parenting is love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 gives us a beautiful description of love: patient, kind, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres. This is the love we are called to show our children.
Parenting is a sacred duty that requires us to avoid actions that provoke anger and instead nurture our children with loving discipline and godly instruction. By doing so, we help shape their hearts and minds to follow Christ, preparing them for a life of faith and righteousness.
Let us pray for wisdom, patience, and strength in our parenting journey, always seeking to glorify God in how we raise our children.
To God be all the glory, now and forever.
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Father God;
We thank you for your presence in our lives,
We praise you Lord for the wisdom bestowed upon Paul,
And we ask you Lord to help us find joy in your perfect plan.
Allow us to praise and love each other through faith in you Jesus,
Shield us from evil through your Word, salvation and prayer,
Guide us to abide by the truth as we spread the good news to one and all,
And lead the lost to You.
God we pray that you will continue to bless us,
To bless our lives and fill us with hope.
We ask you Lord to guide our footsteps and lead us to the way everlasting,
Through faith in you Lord we seek salvation and our place with you in Heaven
According to your ways, your everlasting wisdom and strength.
May your will be done, here on Earth and through the vast Universe,
May our hearts be filled with your everlasting love and grace.
Praises to You God, Amen!
This message was written by Daniel St.Pierre
