John 5:19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does( NLT)
A MODEL OF DISCIPLINE
My father is a disciplinarian. Actually, he copied that from God the father. The bible says in Hebrews 12:6 "because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son". When it comes to the issue of discipline, God is our model.
The purpose of discipline is not to punish like a criminal but to correct. According to scriptures, God's discipline is for those he loves so that his children won't end their lives in perdition. Discipline is an expression of love.
Fathers, one of the ways to express or demonstrate love to your children is to discipline them. It is scriptural. Proverbs 3:13 says "because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in".
Realizing that discipline is an expression of love will make you proactive in helping your family to stay on the right path. God did not instruct us to punish because the end goal of punishment will not lead to a behavioural change but discipline does.
Those days, when my parents want to discipline us, they will show us what we did wrong and that comes after several warning. That stubborness that makes us repeat the same error after several warnings is shown the way out with prayer and the rod. I thank God for what we have become today.
The world, especially the west is trying to rewrite the bible on this subject. In context of scriptures in this piece, where the bible uses "rod", it is what it is not a figurative word. Proverbs 23:13 says "Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die". I didn't write that, I found it in my bible. Though, I agree that context can define discipline. As long as it corrects, it is still biblical.
I understand that there are abuses and extremes but that doesn't invalidate what the scripture says. Every defence against the use of rod doesn't hold water. Just look at the generation that was spanked and disciplined correctly ( note the word "correctly") and compare them with those they tell we shouldn't spank. Any difference? Be the judge.
We need to look at the scriptural recommendation properly and apply it for result to be produced. The rod is for erring children not adults. That implies that the use of rod is within a time frame in the growth phase of a child. When done properly, it produces result.
Proverbs 22:15 says "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him". The bible calls it "rod of correction" not rod of inflicting bruises and marks. Discipline must be age-appropriate. When done in love, it produces result.
The folly in the heart of a child the bible speaks about is the reason they repeat the same thing after several verbal warnings. However, that folly responds to discipline because children don't like anything that inflicts mild pain or discomfort.
Fathers, use the rod when it is useful. A generation is being raised wrongly because we want to look or appear woke and pander to a culture that is anti God. I pray we don't harvest shame in the nearest future.
Proverbs 29:17 says, "Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire".
Discipline is corrective not punitive. The drive is love not hatred. Discipline must be age-appropriate.