Do you care about the next generation?

A good friend of mine told me that his strong disciplines of continual study and reading 1-2 books per month come from the disciplines that his grandmother instilled in him. She would make sure that he daily spent time reading books from various arenas of life. Today, his teachings and messages are always fresh and relevant. He attributes much of his success to his grandmother! The Apostle Paul revealed this about Timothy’s upbringing: “I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.” (2 Timothy 1:5). Timothy went on to be a great leader in his generation. However, it was his mother and grandmother that imparted their faith onto Timothy. If we really love our children, we will not withhold from them the needed disciplines that they will need when they grow up. Disciplines like: love for the word of God, prayer, applying God’s word to their lifestyles, living honestly, honor for their elders and other authority figures, reading and study, going to sleep early and waking up early, etc. If you do this, they will thank you when they grow up. You will be giving them the tools they need to succeed in this complex world.

Proverbs 13:24 – Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.

Why are you being disciplined?

The word discipline is a good word. Part of the meaning is: training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character. Godly discipline leads to maturity and effectiveness. Look what Deuteronomy shares  on discipline: Deuteronomy 8:5 – “Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lordyour God disciplines you for your own good.” Most people have wrong a concept about discipline, so they avoid it; they pray against it; they think that God has left them; they hate it. And because of this, they never mature. Instead they spend most of their life justifying why they never mature or prosper. However, if they would have submitted to Godly discipline, they would have been able to break out of their limits, and they would have gone on to do great things in their lifetime. It’s time to allow Godly discipline to have its perfect work in you. It will propel you forward and higher!

Proverbs 13:1 (NLT) – A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline; a mocker refuses to listen to correction.