In the sermon this past Sunday, we looked at the Biblical mandate for children to obey their parents and for parents to bring up their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. This is a calling to walk in faith toward complete restoration of what was before The Fall. Parents, the purpose in disciplining your children is to imitate your Heavenly Father. Your children should see a reflection of their relationships with God through their relationships with you. When they receive discipline and instruction, tempered in patience and love, you are teaching them how to interact with their heavenly Father. When you engage in Biblical parenting, you and your children both have the opportunity to see a beautiful reflection of who God is, stirring your hearts for worship of your Heavenly Father. When you fail as a parent, you personally experience what your children need to experience when they make mistakes: patience, love, forgiveness and gentle correction. As the Gospel covers you with grace in your parenting, you are reminded of how patient God is with you. Through your parenting mistakes, God displays His amazing love for you by restraining His anger, patiently disciplining you, and instructing you, without provoking you to anger.
