Two Sides of The Coin

Friday's Devotion (5-5-06)

"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4 (KJV)

Kids have you ever heard your parents tell you, "Honor thy mother and they father!" Well, you should... But to the parents out there, I know that nothing provoked me to anger more than my mother using that against me, "You're supposed to honor thy mother and thy father!" Thankfully, she doesn't do that anymore... But she doesn't have reason to either. My point is that having children is a lot like marriage. Women are supposed to be subjected to the male, BUT the male is supposed to treat the female with honor as the weaker vessel. In other words, the male is supposed to treat the woman like a fragile (breakable,) and important vessel. It goes two ways, the same with having children - The rules go two ways! The parents should be honored by the children, BUT also the parents should nurture their children and they shouldn't provoke their children to anger. They should raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. If a child is brought up right, then you don't have to worry about them honoring you BECAUSE THEY WILL!

We know a true story, I've posted it on the website before because it seems like a great example. Some parents are just power hungry, and this provokes their children to anger. If you correct your children, let it be out of love... Not because you want them to know that you have power: There was this man that was never home with his child. The child basically took care of himself. The dad would come on rare occasions just to punish the child and let him know who's boss, without even knowing if the child did any wrong! He'd whoop him with his belt and leave just to show who's boss. Talk about provoking a child to anger! I'll tell you what's going to happen if it hasn't already. That child's going to grow up and he's going to take a trip to his dad's house to show him who's boss! In this case of a child dishonoring his parents, the parents are just as responsible for his sin as the child himself if not more so! Could you honor someone like that? Honestly, I can't. Pray for the boy, and for kids like him. Pray for their parents too, because God knows they'll need prayer when those kids grow up. They're going to need body guards or something. It's important that children be corrected with love and with balance otherwise they're going to end up in a bad mental state. I know I don't have kids, but I've been one myself and I know the effects. I've also helped with my sister's kid. In my mind mental abuse is just as bad as physical, except for the fact that physical abuse also abuses the mind. The bruises will heal, but the memories remain. Lead your children on the right path, the path of righteousness! Your children need to honor, but they're two sides of the coin - You need to be an honorable person too!

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this message and for all things. Please forgive us of all our sins, and we forgive all those who've wronged us. Please help those with children to treat their children right and to raise them right in your ways. Help everyone to honor their own parents, no matter how hard it is for them. In Jesus name. A-men!

God bless!

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