30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 17 1-2 Children and the kingdom of God 15 Chastening of children
📖 Luke 17:1-2
23Jun2020 - *Chastening of children* - _Luke 17:1-2_ - Bible reading: _Hebrews 12:6-12_
_Luke 17:1-2 Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! (2) It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones._
We have understood that as parents and as a whole community we are responsible for the edification of the child. The goal of all edification is to present every man (child) perfect in Christ. We are nurturing the child to be part of the body of Christ, which is also growing into the fullness of Christ.
We have also said that we must cultivate the spirit of enquiry in the child and we must chasten or discipline the child, for this is a requirement, not an option.
_Hebrews 12:6-12 FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE CHASTENS, AND SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES."_ God loves and therefore He chastens us. Chastening and discipling must always come out of great love for the child, not out of irritation or a fit of rage. _Proverbs 13:24 He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly_ Administration of discipline has to be prompt, especially when the child is being stubborn. Stubbornness must be rooted out early in the child. _I Samuel 15:22 So Samuel said: "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. (23) For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king."_
This is what many parents do. They tolerate the child, being disobedient till a point when they are not able to bear it anymore and then the child gets a severe punishment, which the child does not understand and most importantly begins to doubt the love of the parent.
The disciplining process must begin early in the life of the child. I mentioned this earlier that child psychologist affirm that principles of life are imprinted by the time the child is 3 years old. _Proverbs 19:18 Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction._
We are seeing several homes, where children are left to themselves, without chastening and discipline. What does this bring about? Children become an embarrassment and even cause harm to society. Therefore, it would be superfluous to say that homes are the places from where a good society is built.
_Proverbs 29:15 The rod and rebuke give wisdom, But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. Proverbs 29:17 Correct your son, and he will give you rest; Yes, he will give delight to your soul. Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him._
_Hebrews 12:7 If you endure chastening, *God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?*_Being a child of God requires chastening. Chastening is an ongoing experience for us, since we continue as children of God and we are open for God’s chastening.
The chastening experiences are precious for they establish our growing intimacy with Jesus. This is what the child must understand, while going through the disciplining process. They need to experience that the discipling process has drawn us closer to each other and closer to the Lord.
_Hebrews 12:8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons._ Disciplining is the way to establish a family. Not chastening the child is to break the family. We have several evidences of families that have come to ruin since discipline was not administered to the children.
_Hebrews 12:9-10 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? (10) For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness._ The goal of chastening must always be kept in mind, explained to the child during the disciplining process and must have spaced repetition. Let us never forget that we have an enemy, who does not want the child to develop into the nature of Jesus. For if a child is ruined then the model for the kingdom of God is removed.
_Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (12) Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, Proverbs 23:13-14 Do not withhold correction from a child, For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. (14) You shall beat him with a rod, And deliver his soul from hell_
Chastening is not a pleasant experience, both for the child as well as for the parents but as we go through it, the goal and the larger purpose for the experience is what we need to hold, firmly in mind. _James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, (3) knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (4) But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing._
Here are some practical guidelines that my wife and I would like to share with you about chastening of children.
- *Establish the bond of love*
Children must know that we love them. Discipline must always be seen in an atmosphere of love.
- *Parents must be together in the chastening process*
This is very important. If parents are not together but divided amongst themselves, then the children will be confused and will also, sadly, use this division between the parents to manipulate them in order to get what the child wants.
- Firm and consistent
Chastening has to be firm in the sense that boundary lines must be clearly spelt out and understood. The child must also see reason in setting the boundary lines. The lines cannot be arbitrary.
- Must be perceived as ‘fair’ by the child
The chastening or discipline that will be administered, if the boundary line is crossed, must be made clear to the child. When the child crosses the boundary line, deliberately, then the discipline that has been made known, must be administered. The discipline should not be used as a threat.
- Age appropriate
- Close to the behaviour needing change
This relates with being prompt in discipline that has been dealt with earlier. The child must know the specific reason for which the chastening is being administered.
- Leading always to the goal
Once the chastening is administered and the child understands the lesson learnt. The child must be openly appreciated for the lesson learnt and growth of the child towards the goal of being conformed to the image of Jesus.
*Thought to ponder*