Parent and child, continued:

Exercise tough love, continued

• Hebrews 12:4-6 – This verse quotes Proverbs 3:11-12. God disciplines us out of love. Just as we should appreciate (and not reject) the discipline that comes from God, we should appreciate the discipline that comes from our earthly parents.
• Hebrews 12:7-11 – Discipline should result in righteousness in our children. We shouldn’t just yell at our kids to blow off steam!
• Discipline is not pleasant for mothers and fathers, but it is something that must be done! Refusing to discipline your children for your own comfort is selfishness.
• Proverbs 29:17
• The Eli mistake
  • I Samuel 2-3
  • I Samuel 2:12-16 – Eli’s sons steal from the people.
  • I Samuel 2:22-25 – Eli’s sons commit fornication.
  • I Samuel 3:13 – Eli was condemned for not rebuking his sons. He spoke to them, but did not go far enough to change their behavior.
  • Discipline may involve some breaks in the parent-child relationship. We can’t be so afraid of short periods of disharmony in the relationship that we fail to discipline our children, though.

Beware the devil!

• Did Jesus make a mistake in teaching Judas that caused Judas to betray Him? No! It was his decision to betray Jesus.
• We cannot force our children to obey God. It is their choice.