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'scoming 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.
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