Ephesians 6:4
“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
This is a two-fold commandment: 1. Do not do this: “provoke not your children to wrath.” 2. Do this: “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
Provoke not your children to wrath: There are two ways to entreat with your children, Dads. Through gentleness or through harshness. The choice is ours and often times, we fall to the side of culture and not Christ and think how we need to be tough of them, when in reality, they need our love, grace and gentleness.
Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord: Often times, we dads think that nurturing is for the mother to do. This couldn’t be further from the Truth – as you read in Ephesians 6, WE dads have a unique calling to nurture our children. We also are given the unique calling to do so with admonition.
Remember, it was the compassionate father who ran to the prodigal son upon his return. How can we work toward being nurturing, loving, and godly fathers toward our children?
Passages to read:
Luke 15:11-32, The Prodigal Son.
Psalm 127, a quiver full of arrows.
Mark 10:13-16, Forbid not the little children.
Matthew 18:6, The Father’s great love of children.