GIVE CHILDREN THE GIFT OF DISCIPLINE

 

By Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi

'Now his father, King David, had never disciplined him at any time, even by asking, “Why are you doing that?” Adonijah had been born next after Absalom, and he was very handsome." 1 Kings 1:6 NLT. Bible 

King David was nearing his last days on earth and it was customary for the king to name a successor and he had to make a choice between the handsome vivacious and eloquent son Adonijah or solomon who was not known for words but was disciplined by his parents . 

     The Bible says in 1 kings 1:6 that king David never brought himself to discipline his very handsome son Adonijah. Good looks can be mesmerising and deceptive , parents tend not to discipline beautiful looking children , they eventually grow into adulthood ill-equipped  to make the right choices in marriages ,relationships,  businesses, academics etc with many becoming casualties of the ruthless and selfish world's system. 

     The human life is like a paper kite in the wind , with sufficient freedom to express itself up in the sky and is secure as long it is tethered to the handler's thread but as soon as it is detached it experiences a momentary elevation then comes crashing to the ground . The devil deceives many with the momentary elevation . They assume it is alright to be free. Freedom outside discipline is no freedom but disaster waiting to happen.

   We are not created to be free from rules , Jesus Christ saved us from the law of sin and death and brought us under another law ( of the spirit of life in Christ) .We are slaves of Jesus Christ (1Cor.7:22)  . A free spirited person is a wanderer , emotionally insecure  and devoid of identity. Such persons are ashamed of their families and live far away from relatives ,changing  names at will. It is had for a person without a fixed identity to be employed and have a fruitful marriage and a sustainable business . Its a sign of a lost soul and such persons tend to have wasteful tendencies. King David was at one time free- spirited ,roaming the forests and open fields with his herd. He said " I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word." Psalms 119:67 NLTBible  and in Psalms 25:7 NLTBible  he prayed "Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth. Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O Lord ."

   One of the ironies of life is that good-looking people are among the most miserable because of the deception of being admired and false freedom. (Rev.3:17 ) . It is against this backdrop that Solomon was preferred above his brother Adonijah . Unfortunately ,the world's system is caught up in the so -called 'packaging' mentality instead of integrity. This is common in the entertainment industry and modern churches . Adonijah was better packaged but unqualified . 

   The scriptures says " Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it." Proverbs 22:6 NLTBible, 

"Don’t fail to discipline your children. The rod of punishment won’t kill them. Physical discipline may well save them from death."Proverbs 23:13‭-‬14 NLTBible .

 " A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away."Proverbs 22:15 NLTBible  

"To discipline a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child." Proverbs 29:15 NLT

 Do not give up on your children and always ask the lord for strength to lead them in line with his will . He promised that "Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed." Psalms 112:2 NLT

Prayer: Heavenly father forgive me of my sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation I receive him as Lord and saviour and receive the Holy Ghost and power to restore broken families in Jesus name. 

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