Description
How we do well as parents to dwell on the wisdom of Ephesians 6:4!
Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not provoke your children … (visit YouTube for more)
Transcript
Today we’re meditating on a scripture that I used to quote to my dad. I know you’re watching, dad. Hi. It’s Ephesians 6 verse 4. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
And you can see why I might want to have quoted this to my parents. It was about the not provoking children to anger part. And as parents, that’s important for us, isn’t it? It’s important that we meditate on this verse, take it in, and then apply it. That we are not provoking our children, that we are not aggravating them. What benefit does it do them if we just irritate them and annoy them and make their lives difficult?
But the way that we can make their life better and guarantee that they have the best possible start in life is to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. And the discipline part, that means spiritual disciplines, doesn’t it? We do the things that God wants us to do that are good for us. And that includes prayer and it includes reading the Bible. And if we are good parents, we will encourage our children to interact with the Bible as my parents did with me.
And this is part, this is part of the equation that Paul’s saying. On the one hand, don’t make them angry. On the other hand, give them life. This is the life of the Lord that we are speaking into our children. Give them a Bible that’s clear and easy enough for them to read themselves and understand.
Expose them to excellent material. There’s so much rubbish around now. More than ever, give them the good stuff. Why wouldn’t we do that? Why, if we have the good food in our hands, why would we not give that to our children the very best?
We thank you God for your words that gives us this opportunity. We thank you for the encouragement in your word to do this for our children. Thank you for helping us to know what is best for us and what’s best for our kids. May we be obedient to your instructions. Amen.
