I watched my granddaughter Ayla huff and puff as she got sent to her room this past week for refusing to obey her mother. While it makes my heart hurt to see Ayla sad, I know my daughter is doing the right thing when she punishes her disobedience. Teaching our children obedience is the gift that keeps on giving. It’s a gift our Heavenly Father gave His Son.
Today’s Scripture Reading: Hebrews 4:14-7:28
Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.
–Hebrews 5:8
In today’s culture, we seem to have gotten things a bit mixed up. During this Christmas season, parents everywhere are running around looking for the latest and greatest toys, when the things their children need most are boundaries, safety nets and safeguards. These things can only come through the gift of obedience.
Jesus Christ learned obedience from the things he suffered and we do too. It’s a tough world out there and having our children “suffer” when they willfully disobey will teach them obedience. Allowing them to experience the consequences of their disobedience causes them to think twice the next time they are tempted to disobey.
Teaching children to obey their parents has multiple benefits.
- It teaches them to respect authority
- It teaches them to be good parents
- It develops their code of ethics
- It develops a healthy work ethic
- It teaches them to be obedient to their Heavenly Father and His Word
As you prepare your children’s gifts this Christmas, make plans to give them the gift of obedience. If it was good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for us.
Heavenly Father, fill us with Your Spirit. Teach us how to be the parents you would have us to be. Help us to be parents whose yes is yes and no is no. Help us to follow Your example and teach obedience through love. Thank You for the gift of obedience.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen and Amen!
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©2011, Dianne Guthmuller
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Hebrews 8:1-10:39
