Galatians 6:7,8 states, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction. The one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
Consequences are a vital part of the instruction, discipline and correction of our children. These consequences however must be understood as God designed them, not as the world teaches them.
The goal of Christian parenting is the heart of our child, not their behavior. The hope that we have to accomplish this is the transforming power of the gospel. Sowing and reaping needs to be connected to the redemptive purposes of God and not just random acts of behavior modification.
Dr. Tripp covers the biblical vision of sowing and reaping in this chapter by showing the blessings of sowing to the Spirit, the biblical reality of sowing and reaping, and the behavior consequences of sowing and reaping from Scripture.
There a 2 types of consequences:
Natural – those that happen if no one interferes
Those that are shaped by authority
There are at least 6 inevitable consequences to all thoughts and actions:
We reap in relationship with God
We reap in habits for life
We reap in reputation
We reap in human relationships
We reap in long-term usefulness in Christ’s kingdom
We reap for eternity
Just trying to change a child’s behavior may work to do exactly that but it also may obscure the gospel. We are teaching our children that we can live in God’s world without Christ and do just fine.
What to do?
Be a student of the Scriptures
Pray
Shepherd yourself – let God’s Word be on your heart so you may impress it on your child’s heart (Deuteronomy 6:6)
CONSIDER:
1. What does your instruction, discipline and correcton reveal about your real concern for your children? Does it show you are more concerned with their behavior or their heart?
2. What does it mean “He who sows to the Spirit?” How can you teach this to your children?
3. Check the comparison charts on pages 67-69. Have you been deceived in thinking that rewards and punishment are the same as biblical sowing and reaping?
4. Do you have a tendency to interfere with the 2 types of consequences and thus possibly interfering with the progress of the gospel in your child’s life?
5. Develop a plan as to how you can start teaching the inevitable consequences of all thoughts and actions?
Next week: Authority is God’s Plan
Consequences are a vital part of the instruction, discipline and correction of our children. These consequences however must be understood as God designed them, not as the world teaches them.
The goal of Christian parenting is the heart of our child, not their behavior. The hope that we have to accomplish this is the transforming power of the gospel. Sowing and reaping needs to be connected to the redemptive purposes of God and not just random acts of behavior modification.
Dr. Tripp covers the biblical vision of sowing and reaping in this chapter by showing the blessings of sowing to the Spirit, the biblical reality of sowing and reaping, and the behavior consequences of sowing and reaping from Scripture.
There a 2 types of consequences:
Natural – those that happen if no one interferes
Those that are shaped by authority
There are at least 6 inevitable consequences to all thoughts and actions:
We reap in relationship with God
We reap in habits for life
We reap in reputation
We reap in human relationships
We reap in long-term usefulness in Christ’s kingdom
We reap for eternity
Just trying to change a child’s behavior may work to do exactly that but it also may obscure the gospel. We are teaching our children that we can live in God’s world without Christ and do just fine.
What to do?
Be a student of the Scriptures
Pray
Shepherd yourself – let God’s Word be on your heart so you may impress it on your child’s heart (Deuteronomy 6:6)
CONSIDER:
1. What does your instruction, discipline and correcton reveal about your real concern for your children? Does it show you are more concerned with their behavior or their heart?
2. What does it mean “He who sows to the Spirit?” How can you teach this to your children?
3. Check the comparison charts on pages 67-69. Have you been deceived in thinking that rewards and punishment are the same as biblical sowing and reaping?
4. Do you have a tendency to interfere with the 2 types of consequences and thus possibly interfering with the progress of the gospel in your child’s life?
5. Develop a plan as to how you can start teaching the inevitable consequences of all thoughts and actions?
Next week: Authority is God’s Plan
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