A Good Father Promptly Disciplines His Children So That They May Learn And Grow.

Proverbs 23:13-14

Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod, and deliver his soul from hell.

• Do you discipline your children? God requires that we discipline our children, just as He disciplines us when we are out of line. Just as ancient shepherds 'tapped' the ground around the sheep to keep them going in the right direction, or as modern day shepherds, using sheep herder dogs and other methods, these are all used to keep them 'going in the right direction'. The same comes when we discipline our children (even when it comes to physical discipline). My mother disciplined me and my brothers, and put the 'fear of God' in us in doing so.

• If we hate His correction, or allow our children to be without correction, then we should not be surprised when God humbles us in a very painful way. We should not be surprised when our kids become young adults and end up in jail/prison, hanging with the wrong crowd or being taught delusions in college which bring them to hate God, country and authority. We NEED to discipline our children and EMBRACE the discipline of God when we step out of the narrow path.

• We need to learn to trust Him now and to accept correction from the Good Shepherd. If we stiffen our necks, refuse to repent and continue down a path of pride, arrogance and justifying our stupidity and rebellion, we will hear on the last day: "I never knew you... away from Me, you who PRACTICE lawlessness".