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| Pastor P.O Anifowose |
By Pastor P.O Anifowose ( CAC France Suprietendent)
Apostle Paul assures members of God’s family that they are right, citizens of God’s " kingdom Colossians 1 :12 –14, ." Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
We belong to God’s family or "household We are the "temple " not huge building called temple or church. The living God dwells inside His family. Ephesians 2:19–22, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit."
Human parents must follow the example of our Heavenly Father and keep a perfect balance between LOVE and DISCIPLINE. Unfortunately, human parents have the tendency to go from one extreme to the other."
LOVE WITHOUT DISCIPLINE results in spoiling the child, but DISCIPLINE WITHOUT LOVE only frightens them and produces anger and resentment. See Ephesians 6:4 :- The words, « fathers, do not exasperate your children » mean that we should be patient and peaceful with them, encouraging them, and never disciplining them without love. (exasperate means « to excite or inflame the anger of.), this verse actually teaches that parents must avoid both mistakes in rearing children.
Children are imperfect by nature. They are obviously not mature and, like all other people, they are born with a sin nature. So, we must expect them to leave things scattered around the house, and even to be disobedient at times. This is the reason children need discipline.
Real love uses discipline to TEACH the child how to discipline HIMSELF/ HERSELF as he/she grows older.
Discipline then includes much more than slapping and beating a child. Actually, spanking is a very small part of discipline and should be used only when other things have failed.
Discipline with love teaches a child to accept God’s plan for Him. Ephesians 6:1, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right "
The Old Testament talks a lot about God’s plan for children.
Proverbs 6 :20, " My son, keep your father’s commands and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. "
Proverbs 13:1, "A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke. "
Proverbs 15 :20, "A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother."
Proverbs 19:26, "He who robs his father and drives out his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace."
It is biblical to be careful to discipline our children. But, many times, parents are tempted to punish their children in anger. This is not being careful to discipline. Proverbs 13:24, " He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him."
Helping, children learn to discipline themselves is one of the most important tasks that parents must do. One of the ways to do this is through the use of family devotions. Teaching our children spiritual truth is an important part of our responsibilities toward them.
See Ephesians 3 : 14 – 21, "For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. Pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge— that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever ! Amen."