Father God, thank you for this Spirit-breathed admonishment from Paul to families. You place a godly order to the operative structure of a family. Forgive me, Father, for I failed you here; but I learned that the family cogs don’t mesh if all parties don’t hold to their proper responsibility. I learned a wife who is loved and honored by a servant husband willingly allows him to lead. A wife who is scorned and treated harshly hardens her heart toward her husband. Obedient children learn the respect for elders and wisdom. Lord, I am seeing this modifying phrase holds the weight of gold in Paul’s message: “lest they become discouraged.” I lift my prayer for families, Father. May they see the value in Paul’s writing. Keep them from the path of discouragement and dysfunction in the name and authority of Jesus, according to your good and perfect will. Amen.
“Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.” (Colossians 3:18-21 ESV)