Page 168 - Ephesians

“nurture”, carries with it “words”. Sometimes you’ve got to talk to
them. It has to do with exhortation and warning. You see, fathers
are very apt to violate these instructions. I believe the Holy Spirit
is giving a strong warning to fathers. Fathers are less likely than
mothers, to be gentle and patient, and to fondle. I speak from
experience. They are apt to be hasty, rough, moody, and unjust.

How can we provoke our children to anger? Number one.
Unreasonable blame. Once on my son’s birthday, he took an
awful wailing, for something he didn’t even do. Unreasonable
blame, harsh commands, unpredictable temper, or taking out the
day’s frustrations on the children. Boy, that will provoke them to
anger! Unjust penalty, with no show of love. Psalm 104:14,
speaking about the Lord’s dealing with us as His children, “He
Himself knows our frame and He remembers that we’re dust.”
Oh, isn’t that tremendous? Aren’t you glad in God’s dealings with
you that He remembers you are dust? As He brings us up in the
nurture and admonition of the Lord, He remembers our weakness.
Father’s tend to deal with their children without due consideration
of their dust nature.

This is not saying that your children will never rebel, and never get
angry. It’s saying, “Fathers, don’t provoke them to it”.

Some practical advice when disciplining your children:

#1 Let them know why they are being dealt with.

#2 Let them know they are loved, while they are being dealt
with.

#3 Let them know they are loved, after they are dealt with.