Provoke Not!

Ephesians 6:4 reads, "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." Wow what a powerful statement. It doesn't say to try not to provoke them to anger. It doesn't suggest not to provoke them to anger. He isn't even asking us to not provoke them to anger. He is telling us not to provoke them to anger. When disciplining our children, we need to do so in a way that will not provoke anger. It sounds difficult and almost impossible, but that is our task. We are to instruct them in a way that will not provoke them to anger. This one sounds easier, but still can be a challenge sometimes. The key here is that the father is reading the Word himself. In doing so, we will learn how to discipline and instruct in a way that will not provoke anger. I challenge all the fathers to be in the Word and strive to discipline and instruct in the Lord so not to provoke anger in your children. Mothers, I would encourage you to support and aid your husbands as they try to discipline and instruct your children of the Lord. God bless!