Proverbs 13:24

He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.
Proverbs 13:24

Loving, Careful Discipline
Being a parent is very great privilege. Being a parent is also a very difficult job! It's hard to strike the balance between protecting your children and letting them spread their wings in a sometimes scary world. It's hard to strike the balance between letting your children have fun and making them abide by the rules. It's hard to strike the balance between being your children's friend and being their life's teacher. We know it is important to discipline our children, but we also want to balance that with what Colossians 3:21 says, "Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged."
We all need discipline because we have a sinful nature that needs to be continually trained. It is especially vital in a child's formative years to receive discipline. Sinful habits formed in childhood will be even more difficult to break in adulthood. For their own personal benefit and for the benefit of society children should receive careful discipline so they become humble, hard-working, ethical adults who strive to serve God and serve others with their lives. While children might not appreciate the disciplinary training their parents give them, later in life they will appreciate that their parents loved them in that way.
Key words in this Bible verse are "loves" and "careful". . ."he who loves him is careful to discipline him." God calls upon parents to carefully discipline their children out of love for them. If discipline - in whatever form it is administered - is not motivated by the love and care of parents for their children, it can lead to choices that are detrimental and sinfully wrong. The goal of discipline is to help children mature and lead more God-pleasing and productive lives, and ultimately that children are trained spiritually and spend eternity in heaven through faith in their Savior Jesus.
Parents, pray for wisdom to be able to lovingly and carefully discipline your children.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help parents to love their children to carefully discipline them for their earthly and eternal benefit. Amen.

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Isaías 49: 1

"O Senhor me chamou desde o ventre, desde as entranhas de minha mãe fez menção do meu nome."

Isaías 49: 1
Bíblia Sagrada

Reflexão: Vocação e trabalho

"O que fazes na tua casa é tão valioso como se o estivesses a fazer no céu para o nosso Deus. Devemos acostumar-nos a pensar que a nossa vocação e trabalho são sagrados e agradáveis a Deus, não devido a si próprios, mas por conta da palavra e da fé, das quais a obediência e o trabalho fluem." (Martinho Lutero)

"What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word and faith from which the obedience and the work flow." (Martin Luther)