PODCAST
Encourage The Children
January 11th, 2013
Colossians 3:18—4:1RG AUDIO 011113
Colossians 3 & 4 looks at practical holiness to the family unit. Family relationships should be a mirror of our relationship with our heavenly Father. As he values and encourages each of us, no matter our social standing, so we should value and encourage one another, especially within the family unit.
The message to the fathers is strong. They are the earthly representatives of the heavenly Father, so the relationship to their children is crucial. Sweet infants, so beautiful and precious, grow into children and teens that develop their own attitudes, preferences, and personalities. We can choose to be encouraging teachers who shape their lives positively for the kingdom and God, or we can discourage them by a caustic and critical manner.
Discouragement is the easy route, often leading to despair and personal destruction. Encouragement requires much more intentional instruction and incredible patience. The investment of time and energy in encouragement, however, will pay huge dividends eventually as a balanced, productive, positive adult emerges who will also encourage others to seek holiness.
January 11th, 2013 at 6:53 am
Encouragement is positive; however, children do need correction from time to time.
Since correction can be perceived as negative, a “critique” in lieu of a “criticism” is the best course of action. A critique is the evaluation of the good and bad; whereas, a criticism is just concerned with the bad.
Just as kind words can heal (Proverbs 16:24) thoughtless words can harm (Psalms 52:4).