THE DEMEANOR OF FATHERS

“Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged" (Col. 3:21 NKJV).

The word fathers here in Col. 3:21 could be also be translated ‘parents.’ It is not clear whether Paul intended to give this instruction to both parents, but he considered fathers the spiritual leaders of their homes. As such they ultimately were accountable for what happened in the home.

Prohibition in the demeanor – “Fathers do not provoke your children.” Provoking can be done through injustice, unfairness, cruelty and unfaithfulness (not keeping promises). Paul warned fathers against becoming too severe with their children, lest they become discouraged because of the severity of the demands placed upon them. Sincere fathers, of course, want their children to surrender their lives to Christ and do His will. Because of this they have a strong tendency to pressure their children to do right, and if they are not careful, this pressure can take the form of constant nagging. While the Scriptures definitely instruct children to obey their parents, parents should not depend on force but administer discipline in love, justice, and moderation

Peril in the demeanor – “Lest they become discouraged.” Fathers should encourage their children, not discourage them. Discouraged children will not be well-behaved and will not do well in school or anywhere else. They have lost their enthusiasm for living because dad has so discouraged them by his conduct. One of the most important things a father can do is spend time with his children. It is an encouragement for children to know that dad, as busy as he is, take time (make time) to be with them. A listening ear and a loving heart always go together. Christian fathers must listen carefully, share the feelings and frustrations of their children, pray with them, and seek to encourage them.

(Adapted from Butler Daily Bible Reading)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“The father who does not teach his son his duties is equally guilty with the son who neglects them!”

Anonymous

Word Study

Provoke

In Col. 3:21 we read, “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged” (NKJV).

Provoke is the word erethizō (ἐρεθίζω = er-eth-id'-zo). It means to excite, arouse, kindle. In a bad sense it means to make resentful, irritate, and rouse to anger. In classical writings, the word means to excite or provoke, especially with the intent of causing the subject to change. In the Septuagint as well as the New Testament, erethizō carries the negative sense of irritate, embitter.

Further, the word “provoke” is a present imperative with a negative which means it is a command to stop an action that is already in process. Thus in context the apostle Paul is commanding fathers to stop provoking their children to the point that they become bitter and resentful.

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Old Testament Prophecy – Messiah would be given vinegar and gall for His thirst (Psalm. 69:21)

New Testament Fulfillment – Matt. 27:34

Bible Facts

The seed of a plant contains its life (Gen. 1:11; 29). As stated in the Book of Genesis, we now recognize that inside the seed is life itself. Within the seed is a tiny factory of amazing complexity. No scientist can build a synthetic seed and no seed is simple!

Bible Quiz

My name is Methuselah, and my dad was a godly man who walked with God. In the end he was taken to Heaven. Do you know the name of my godly dad?

**Answer to last week’s trivia: Who was known as “The voice of one crying in the wilderness?” John the Baptist (Mark 1:2-4).

That’s in the Bible

"Jot or tittle”

“For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matt. 5:18 KJV).

“Jot or tittle” - The expression “jot or tittle” refers to the smallest amount of something. A “jot” was the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet, and the “tittle” was a small point which serves to distinguish one letter from another. Because the Hebrew letters were written with small points (tittle), to change a small point on one letter, could change the meaning of a word, thus destroying the sense. Hence the Jews were exceedingly cautious in writing these letters, and considered the smallest change or omission a reason for destroying the whole manuscript when they were transcribing the Old Testament.

The expression, “one jot or tittle,” became proverbial, and means that the smallest part of the law should not be destroyed. Before Christ, the law demanded perfect righteousness and man. However, Christ fulfilled the law and by so doing, He secured the perfect righteousness demanded by the law and became the perfect representative for all men.

Did You Know - Christian History

Apolo Kivebulaya was born in 1864 in Kiwanda, Uganda. His parents originally named him Waswa Munubi. He was a Ugandan Anglican priest and evangelist. He is sometimes referred to as the “apostle to the pygmies” for his work among the Bambuti people of the Ituri forest in eastern Congo.

Waswa grew up the son of peasants and as a young man, he was a hard-hearted dope-smoking soldier. But he was deeply impressed with the life and teaching of missionary Alexander Mackay. Eventually, the gospel penetrated Waswa’s heart and changed him. He then dropped his birth name and took the baptismal name Apolo (after Apollos, the evangelist mentioned in the book of Acts).

Accepting a request to go to Mboga in the Congo to preach, Apolo went, carrying a hoe over his shoulder (two Ugandan missionaries were forced out because the people of Mboga refused to sell them food). The people did not appreciate the Church’s prohibition on sorcery, polygamy and drunkenness, and made it tough for the evangelists. The people of Mboga tried to starve him out, but he raised his own food.

When starvation did not succeed, a false accusation was levelled against Apolo. The chief’s sister impaled herself on a spear that had been left in some tall grass. Everyone blamed Apolo, who, of course, did not even own a spear. After beating him severely, they left him to die. A faithful Christian woman nursed him back to life.

Later on, Chief Tabaro also became Christian. He begged Apolo’s forgiveness and became a close friend. Apolo then took the gospel to the neighboring pygmies, translating the scripture and baptizing his first pygmy converts in 1932, the year before he died.

Apolo died in Mboga on May 30, 1933. At his request, he was buried with his head to the west, because he saw that the gospel needed to be carried across the Congo in that direction. He had planted well and the church flourished after his death. Thirty years later, it had 25,000 members. Today, there are over half a million. Without the faithfulness of this one man, the Church of England would not exist in such numbers in the Eastern Congo today.

A Little Humor

An eight year-old boy had been pestering his father for a watch. Finally his father said in exasperation, “I don’t want to hear about you wanting a watch again.’ At dinner that night the family each gave a Scripture verse at the dinner table, and the boy repeated Mark 13:37, “And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Train up a child in the way he should go; then go that way thyself!”