832 英翻中 (532) The development of the Boy Jesus is our example. 孩童時的耶穌的成長就是父親教養子女的榜樣. 26/08/2024832 英翻中 (532) The development of the Boy Jesus is our example. 孩童時的耶穌的成長就是父親教養子女的榜樣. 26/08/2024

832 English to Chinese (英翻中532) The development of the Boy Jesus is our example. The growth of Jesus as a child serves as a model for fathers in raising their children .                 26/08/2024                                                          

Our dearest Heavenly Father, forgive my sins. I am often easily angered. Please help me not to provoke my wife by forcing her to take her medication and making her angry. Lord, forgive me for committing the sin of pride in this life, which has deprived me of the opportunity to save sinners before You. I have decided to reform myself from this day forward. Please come into my heart now and be my Savior. I will surely teach my children according to Your will. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

2.  Christian Fathers ( 6 :  4 )

If left to themselves, children will be rebels, so it is necessary for the parents to train their children. Years ago, the then Duke of Windsor said, “Everything in the American home is controlled by switches—except the children!” The Bible records the sad results of parents neglecting their children, either by being bad examples to them or failing to discipline them properly. David pampered Absalom and set him a bad example, and the results were tragic. Eli failed to discipline his sons, and they brought disgrace to his name and defeat to the nation of Israel . In his latter years, even Isaac pampered Esau, while his wife showed favoritism to Jacob; and the result was a divided home. Jacob was showing favoritism to Joseph when God providentially rescued the lad and made a man out of him in Egypt . Paul told us that the father has several responsibilities toward his children.                                                                                    If they are left to their own devices, the children will rebel, so it is necessary for parents to train their children. Years ago, the then Duke of Windsor said, “Everything in an American home is controlled by a switch — except the children, who are not controlled by switches!” The Bible records the tragic consequences of parents neglecting to discipline their children, either because of the parents' own bad example or because they failed to discipline them properly. David favored Absalom, setting a bad example for him, with disastrous results. Eli failed to discipline his sons, who brought shame upon his reputation, and the nation of Israel was defeated. In Isaac's later years, he favored Esau, while his wife favored Jacob; the result was a divided family. When God saved Jacob and used him to make Joseph, who led him out of Egypt, Jacob again favored Joseph. Paul tells us that fathers have several responsibilities towards their children.   

He must not provoke them. In Paul's time, the father held supreme authority over the family. When a baby was born into a Roman family, for example, it was brought out and laid before the father. If he picked it up, it meant he was accepting it into the home. But if he did not pick it up, it meant the child was rejected. It could be sold, given away, or even killed by exposure. No doubt a father's love would overcome such monstrous acts, but these practices were legal in that day. Paul told the parents, “Don't use your authority to abuse the                                            child, but to encourage and build the child.” To the Colossians, he wrote, “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged” (Col. 3:21). So, the opposite of “provoke” is “encourage.” If the father picked up the infant, it meant he was accepting him into the home. But if the father didn't pick him up, it meant the infant was being rejected. He could be sold, given away, or even abandoned to die. Undoubtedly, a father's love would overcome this terrible behavior, but these practices were legal at the time. Paul told parents, "Do not abuse your children with your authority, but encourage and nurture them." In his letter to the Colossians, he wrote, "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, lest they become discouraged" (Colossians   3:21 ). Therefore, the opposite of "inspire " is "encourage."

I was addressing a group of Christian students on the subject of prayer, pointing out that our Father in heaven is always available when we call. To illustrate this, I told them that the receptionist at our church office has a list of names prepared by me, and these people could reach me at any time, no matter what I was doing. Even if I was in a staff meeting or a counseling session, if any of these people phoned, she was to call me immediately. At the top of this list was my family. Even if the                                                        matter seems inconsequential to me, I want my family to know that I am available. After the service, one of the students said to me, “Would you adopt me? I can never get through to my Father, and I need his encouragement so much!” Even if I'm in a staff meeting or consulting session, she'll call me immediately if any of these people call. At the top of the list are my family members. Even if it seems insignificant to me, I want my family to know I'm available. After the speech, one of the students said , "Would you adopt me? I've never been able to contact my father, and I desperately need his encouragement!"

Fathers provoke and discourage their children by saying one thing and doing another—by always blaming and never praising, by being inconsistent and unfair in discipline, by showing favoritism at home, by making promises and not keeping them, and by making light of problems that, to the children, are very important. Christian parents need the fullness of the Spirit                                        so they can be sensitive to the needs and problems of their children.  

He must nurture them. The text reads, “But nurture them in the discipline and admonition of the Lord.” The verb translated “bring them up” is the same word that is translated “nourisheth” in Ephesians 5:29. The Christian husband is to nourish his wife and his children by sharing love and encouragement in the Lord. It is not enough to nurture the children physically by providing food, shelter, and clothing. He must also nurture them emotionally and spiritually. The development of the Boy Jesus is our example: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52 ). Here is balanced growth: intellectual, physical, spiritual, and social. Nowhere in the Bible is the training of children assigned to agencies outside the home, no matter how they might assist. God looks to the parents for the kind of training that the children need. A father      must educate and raise his children. The scripture reads, “ But train them according to the Lord’s discipline and instruction.” The verb “train them” is the same as the word “nourish” in Ephesians 5:29 . Christian husbands should nourish their wives and children by sharing love and encouragement in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not enough to merely provide food, shelter, and clothing to nourish children physically. Fathers must also nurture them emotionally and spiritually. Jesus’ childhood growth serves as an example for fathers in raising their children: “He was increasing day by day in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke  2:52 ). This is balanced growth: intellectual, physical, spiritual, and social nurturing simultaneously. There is no record in the Bible of sending children to institutions outside the family for training, no matter how effectively they provide assistance. God expects the children’s biological parents to be the ones who provide the necessary training.

He must discipline them. The word “nurture” carries with it the idea of ​​learning through discipline. It is translated as “chastening” in Hebrews 12. Some modern psychologists oppose the old-fashioned idea of ​​discipline, and many educators follow their philosophy. “Let the children express themselves!” they tell us. “If you discipline them, you may warp their characters.” Yet discipline is a basic principle of life and an evidence of love . “Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth” (Heb. 12 : 6 ). “He that spareth him chasteneth him diligently” (Prov. 13:24, literal translation ). "The Lord disciplines those he loves" (Hebrews  12:6 ). "He who has mercy on him disciplines him diligently" (Proverbs  13:24 ).                                                                                                                                             

However, we must ensure that we discipline our children in the right way. To begin with, we must discipline with love, not anger, lest we injure either the child's body or spirit, or possibly both. If we are not disciplined, we                                                              certainly cannot discipline others, and "flying off the handle" never made either a better child or a better parent.

Furthermore, our discipline must be fair and consistent .  "My father would use a cannon to kill a mosquito!" a teenager once told me. "I either get away with murder, or I get blamed for everything!" Consistent, loving discipline gives the child assurance. He may not agree with us                                                                                                                                  , but at least he knows that we care enough to build some protective walls around him until he can take care of himself.

“I never knew how far I could go,” a wayward girl told me, “because my parents never cared enough to discipline                                                                                                                                                        me. I figured that if it wasn't important to them, why should it be important to me?”

He must instruct and encourage them. This is the meaning of the word admonition. The father and mother not only use actions to raise the child, but also words. In the book of Proverbs, for example, we have an inspired record of a father sharing wise counsel with his son. Our children do not always appreciate our counsel , but that does not eliminate the obligation we have to instruct and encourage them. Of course, our instruction must always be tied to the Word of God (see 2 Tim  . 3 : 13-17                                                                                                                                  ) . 

When the Supreme Court handed down its ruling against required prayer in public schools, the famous editorial cartoonist Herblock published a cartoon in the Washington Post showing an angry father waving a newspaper at his family and shouting, “What do they expect us to do—listen to the kids pray at home?” The answer is yes! Home is the place where the children ought to learn about the Lord and the  Christian life . It is time that Christian parents stop passing the buck to Sunday school teachers and Christian day - school teachers, and start nurturing their children.