Scripture
“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 NKJV)
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment accompanied by a promise, namely, that it will go well with you and that you will live a long time on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:1-3 NET)
“He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.” (Proverbs 13:24)
In today’s world discipline is often thought of as a dirty word. Discipline is not equivalent to punishment. The Bible states that, “Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, And he who hates correction will die.” (Proverbs 15:10 NKJV)
God’s way is to first admonish our children, which is to warn and correct them. To admonish means to correct or warn, it does not mean a harsh rebuke. The shepherd’s rod was used to pull the sheep back into the fold if a sheep began to go the wrong direction. This is how a parent corrects and disciplines their children. Only harsh and cruel punishment is for the child who refuses to obey his parents. Beating a child with a rod is not correcting a child but scaring a child.
God declares that a father is to chasten his children and to not do so is not to love one’s child.
For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.” (Hebrews 12:6-8 NKJV)
But what does it mean to chasten one’s children?
Chasten- Chasten is a verb that means to correct by punishment or suffering, to prune of excess, or to cause to be more humble or restrained. It comes from the Latin verb castīgāre, meaning \"to discipline\" (https://www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › chasten)
From this we learn that a parent must correct and if necessary punish his child.
Prayer
Dear Lord, please teach us how to correctly admonish our children.
Amen
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