Provoking Children?

John MacArthur, "Successful Christian Parenting", 1998 ~ "Parents, take inventory in your own hearts. Do you thirst for God as the deer pants after the water? Or is your own life sending your children a message of hypocrisy and spiritual indifference? Is our own commitment to Christ what you hope to see in your children’s lives? Is your obedience to His Word the same kind of submission you long to see from your own kids? These are crucial questions each parent must face if we really want to be successful parents and good role models for our children. Parents who are lax in these areas virtually guarantee that their sons and daughters will fail spiritually."

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Colossians 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

Right and Almost Right

"Discernment is not a matter of simply telling the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right." ~ C.H. Spurgeon. 

God's Word is absolute. We need to know it so well that we can pick out even the smallest lie. Beware of mixing traditions, philosophy, opinion, and preferences with God's Word.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

Godly Counsel

Thankful for the counsel of God's Word and those He places in my life to give godly counsel. Times of trial serve to bring me closer to Him... not to drive me away. And, yes, at times my flesh and heart fails just as the Psalmist David's did, but God is my strength. The trial simply provides me another opportunity to proclaim His working in my life.

Psalm 73:24-26, 28 - Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. 28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.