Shepherding a Child's Heart

by Tedd Tripp

You do not come to your child demanding, for your own purposes, that he knuckle under you and obey. No! You come with the corrections of discipline that are the way to life (Proverbs 6:23). You engage your son on behalf of God because God has first engaged you. I recall many conversations that went like this: Father: “You didn’t obey Daddy, did you?” Child: “No.” Father: “Do you remember what God says Daddy must do if you disobey?” Child: “Spank me?” Father: “That’s right. I must spank you. If I don’t, then I would be disobeying God. You and I would both be wrong. That would not be good for you or for me, would it?” Child: “No.” [a reluctant reply] What is this dialog communicating to the child? You are not spanking him because you are mean. You are not trying to force him to submit to you only because you hate insolence. You are not mad at him. You, like him, are under God’s rule and authority. God has called you to a task you cannot shirk or shrug off. You are acting under God’s rule. You are requiring obedience because God says you must.