A
CHANGED HEART
As
parents our ultimate goal in training and disciplining our children
is to imbed within their hearts a desire to do what is right. Mind
you, there is some necessity to instill a fear of
punishment/consequences to initially turn the stubborn will of the
human nature towards obedience. The scripture encourages us by
saying: Foolishness is
bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it
far from him.” Proverbs
22:15.
However,
in modern times, we even see adult children continuing to need the
type of correction that should have been done in early childhood.
Our world pampers, excuses, justifies, and rescues their offspring
by not demanding obedience and being unwilling to do what is
necessary to allow God to bring consequences that factor into their
decisions. Many adults come to Christ in fear seeking to avoid
eternal destruction which is good, but God requires more of us. He
requires a changed heart! John the Baptist faced the same situation
in Matthew 3:4ff.
John
was calling for true repentance. John wrote: “…when
he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducee's
coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who
warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits
worthy of repentance…”
When one truly has a changed heart, this is when God blesses and
restores all the privileges He gives as a loving Father. He always
loves us, but requires a total change of heart which is evident in
our behavior.