Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death. — Proverbs 19:18

Knowing how to discipline each of my children has always been a dilemma for me. Some needed a more assertive approach, and others required a gentler approach. Some of my children responded promptly to discipline, and others have only responded after a few dozen attempts at discipline. But all the same, they each have needed it. And when I have disciplined them, there are times it has crushed me, and other times it has given me a strange pleasure. Yet it's this "strange pleasure" that leads a father away from the self-discipline needed to rightly apply the discipline that results in a child becoming self-disciplined instead of "putting them to death."

The great apostle Paul said there is a point at which discipline will provoke a child. In Colossians 3:21, he said, "Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged." And as we have already stated, that point where discipline meets the line between encouragement and discouragement is different for every child. But we have a responsibility to know this and not cross it crushing a child to death.

And God, our Father, knows how to do this with us. As we are a son of God, he knows exactly how to discipline us without discouraging us. Hebrews 12:10 states:

For [earthly fathers] disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but [Father God] disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. — Hebrews 12:10

So fathers, discipline your children. But as you do remember, there is a Father who disciplines you. And God does this in a way to bring out your holiness, not hatred. So do the same for your children. Discipline yourselves so you can discipline them for holiness.

ASK THIS: Who do you need to discipline? How should you do it?

DO THIS: Make a pre-decision, not a wrong decision on discipline.

PRAY THIS: God, discipline me, so I know how to discipline others.

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