The Worth Of Self-Discipline? Love?

WHAT IS THE WORTH OF LOVE AND SELF-DISCIPLINE? FATHER?

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

WHAT IS MOSES’ WORTH? DEPENDS? LOOK AT SOME LIFE CHANGING EVENTS THAT PREPARES MOSES FOR HIS JOURNEY AHEAD.

In Moses first 40 years at home and in the palace of Pharaoh, Moses thought he was a big shot and a WHO-WHO! Then Moses’ journey leads him to the BACKSIDE OF THE DESERT, stepping in sheep stuff, PACKING HIS BROWN BAG LUNCH AND WORKING ALL DAY. Moses thought HE WAS NOTHING, a failure, what might he have done if he had made different choices?

THERE WAS A BEGINNING OF A CHANGE IN MOSES AS HE MEETS JETHRO. Moses marries ZIPPORAH and God is beginning a new journey for Moses. One life changing event was when MOSES HAD TWO SONS. THESE TWO SONS ---GERSHOM and ELIEZER … GAVE THEIR DAD A NEW APPRECIATION OF LIFE.

Moses worth would forever be changed in the backside of the desert and two sons. One morning he kissed his wife and went out in the field as he had many times before. MOSES MAY HAVE LEARNED IN HIS SECOND 40 YEARS HOW TO BE A GOOD HUSBAND AND FATHER. THE CRUEL DESERT TAUGHT MOSES “HE WAS A NOBODY.”

Life will forever change in the backside of the desert: Husband and Dad has an encounter with GOD… MOSES LEARNED ALL GROUND IS HOLY.

Exodus 3:2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. 4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. 5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground..

WHAT IS THE WORTH OF MOSES AS A HUSBAND AND A FATHER IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE? WHAT DO YOU HAVE? A ROD… A MAN THAT HAD EVERYTHING THEN REDUCED TO A MAN THAT HAD NOTHING… BUT A ROD…

Exodus 4:2 And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.

FATHER GOD HAD A PLAN FOR THIS FATHER, FATHER OF TWO SONS, BUT FATHER OF DELIVERANCE… FROM EVERYTHING TO NOTHING TO LEARN THAT “GOD WAS EVERYTHING!” THE JOURNEY MAY SEEM STRANGE AND TWISTED --- BUT GOD! BUT THE ROD OF GOD?

Exodus 4:20 And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.

WE CAN NEVER UNDER VALUE THE ROLE OF THE FATHER IN THE JOURNEY TO FIND GOD’S PLAN. HERE WE ARE NOT DISCUSSING MAN, BUT THE PLAN OF GOD.

WE HAVE TWO DUTIES OR RESPONSIBILTIES TO OUR PARENTS:

1. TO OBEY OUR PARENTS IN THE LORD…

2. TO HONOR THEM

Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

It is right to obey and honor our parents. This is more than a suggestion this is a commandment whether we agree with it or not. God promises blessings to those that obey and honor their parents.

THERE ARE TWO COMMANDMENTS FOR FATHERS (PARENTS) TO FOLLOW.

Colossians 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

1. Provoke not your children to wrath… anger… As a parent it can be easy to be harsh, hard, ANGRY. Even at times a parent can become mean and lack understanding. My opinion God is talking to parents in general.

2. A bad parent can get BENT ON PUNISHMENT. Punishment can be a type of REVENGE. Punishment can make a child feel like they are a “BAD CHILD!” It makes them feel GUILTY and STUPID. Now hear me there is a correct time for punishment. Punishment to often can cause the child to feel like the parents hates them. Punishment seems to stay NEGATIVE IN NATURE.

3. There is a better tool for parents to use than punishment.… GOD THE FATHER KNOWS CORRECTION or DISCIPLINE. I think a good parent learns the difference between PUNISHMENT and CORRECTION.

*PUNISH: inflict penalty as retribution for an offense, to treat someone harsh. This can be corporal punishment or harsh verbal reprimands, to inflict hurt.