Our Daily Bread - 09/17/12 - Correct Them

Our Daily Bread is copied in it's entirety directly from:

Our Daily Bread   

My thoughts and interpretations are noted as such.

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Read: 

1 Samuel 2:12,27-36

Eli’s Wicked Sons

¹² Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord.

Prophecy Against the House of Eli

²⁷ Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Did I not clearly reveal myself to your ancestor’s family when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh? 
²⁸ I chose your ancestor out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in my presence. I also gave your ancestor’s family all the food offerings presented by the Israelites. ²⁹ Why do you^[a]scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?’³⁰ “Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.’ But now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.
³¹ The time is coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your priestly house, so that no one in it will reach old age, ³² and you will see distress in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, no one in your family line will ever reach old age. 
³³ Every one of you that I do not cut off from serving at my altar I will spare only to destroy your sight and sap your strength, and all your descendants will die in the prime of life.³⁴ “‘And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you—they will both die on the same day. 
³⁵ I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always. ³⁶ Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread and plead, “Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat.”

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Therapist and mother Lori Gottlieb says that parents who are obsessed with their children’s happiness may actually contribute to their becoming unhappy adults. These parents coddle their children, do not equip them to deal with the real world, look the other way when their children do wrong, and neglect disciplining them.

In 1 Samuel, we read that the high priest Eli sometimes looked the other way. We don’t know what he was like as a father when his boys were young. But he failed to properly deal with their behavior as grown men serving in God’s temple. They were selfish, lustful, and rebellious, putting their own needs ahead of God’s Word and the needs of the people. At first, Eli rebuked them but they would not listen. Instead of removing them from service, he looked the other way and let them continue in their sin. As a result of his sons’ sins and because Eli honored his sons above the Lord (1 Sam. 2:29), the Lord warned Eli that his family would suffer judgment (v.34; 4:17-18).

As Christian parents, we have the awesome responsibility to lovingly discipline our children (Prov. 13:24; 29:17; Heb. 12:9-11). As we impart God’s wisdom to them, we have the blessing of helping them develop into responsible, God-fearing adults.

They are buds of hope and promise,
Possessed by Him whose name is Love;
Lent us here to train and nourish
For a better life above. —Crosby

Failure to discipline our children is a failure to love them.

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My thoughts:

Any parent knows the feeling of "Oh, let them be" when we are tired, busy or feeling like we are at our wits end with all that our daily lives involve.

Unfortunately, there were times when my son was growing up when "Oh, let him be" was the road I chose to travel rather than the difficult road of disciple. If I could do it over again, I would never choose the easy path however; as we all know, there are no "do-overs" in life.Fortunately, at his dad's house, the "easy road" was was never the road traveled. And for my son's sake, I am thankful his dad and step-mom were diligent, disciplined and loving.I must tell you my son has become a very hard-working, disciplined and studious young man. He is in college and doing well.

The road of disciple is NOT for wimpy parents. Children have tongues which can feel like a sword slicing through skin BUT for their sake we must stick to our guns and make the difficult choices and live with those consequences even if that means being locked up in the house ALL weekend long when they are grounded.

In reading the scriptures today I see failings in my job as a mother. I can also see in my life where God has found it necessary to be a disciplining Father in my life and where my choices have called for discipline from Him. I feel as though I am living in an era of my life where I am being disciplined for my past sins however; I am a hopeful person knowing God will always forgive my sins when I ask.

I do not believe God wants any of us to suffer however; as humans, we make our own troubles. To me, the key is to learn and grow though the tough times and become a teacher to others.

Sincerely, Anita Mordue