Understanding the Purpose and Power of Men

How to Be a Good Father

situations where, if it wasn‘t for the training of m y parents, I would have gone under. The only thing that kept me safe was the character I learned from their teaching and correc tion. I love my parents because they disciplined me. Hebrews 12:7 – 11 tells us the benefits of discipline: Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discip line), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” If you train your children, they will grow up to know God‘s ways and to have peace in their hearts. The King James Version uses the word “chastening” in stead of “discipline.” The word chasten means ―to correct,‖ ―to reprove,‖ or ―to discipline.‖ Some children are punished but not corrected. Parents sometimes confuse the two. Your children need discipline. To discipline means to instill moral and mental character, to give values to a person. You don‘t give values just by punishing. You give values by correcting. My parents had a wonderful way of sitting me down and saying, ―Now, here is why we punished you.‖ They didn‘t just punish me; they corrected me. They said, ―If you keep this up, this wil l happen,‖ and ―If you keep this kind of company, this will be the result.‖ Disciplining your children may be somewhat painful for both you and your children at times, but the results will be positive and healthy.

207