August 4 – Hebrews 12:9-10, Proverbs 19:18
Hebrews 12:9-10
Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness.
I see two ideas to gain from this:
1) Children will respect parents who discipline them.
2)The discipline of parents WILL be imperfect, but, still, it should be done the best they know. (And in love, from the verse before). But (and this is my idea) — I do think the respect may be somewhat conditional on the doing-the-best-you-know and on the love. Unreasonably harsh and anger-driven punishment doesn’t seem “best” or loving. (But, yet, sometimes that anger is understandable! We won’t go into that! 🙂 )
Proverbs 19:18 in the Amplified Bible says: Discipline your son while there is hope, but do not [indulge your angry resentments by undue chastisements and] set yourself to his ruin.