197: How to show love to your children | Proverbs 27:5

There is one very powerful, yet surprising way to show love for your children: Correcting them. The same is true in our relationship with God. I love my children more than I ever thought I would be able to love anything. Being a dad is one of my greatest callings (along with being a husband. Ministry is third. That's biblical. Look it up if you don't believe me.) But there is one critical way that I must show love to my children that I am not always a fan of… Correcting them. This is so hard! My Baby Girl is two. So, that means that she is getting to the point of understanding right and wrong. So, she is starting to get timeouts and stuff. Even if I use a firm voice, she starts to cry and runs down the hallway. It kills me! But our One Verse today is clear. Proverbs 27:5 says, "Better is open rebuke than hidden love." In other words, open correction shows love to your children. And every parent knows this. Actually, everyone knows this because we've all seen "that kid" at the grocery store who could use some more correction (am I right?!). But here's the deal. I don't think this verse is all about parenting. That's part of it. But I think it is showing us something deeper. We are God's children. He corrects us because He loves us. It's not out of anger. He isn't angry with you just like I'm not angry with my 2-year-old daughter. It breaks my heart. And it breaks God's, as well. But God loves you enough to steer your life towards purpose and significance.   About One Verse One Verse is a short, free podcast devotional designed to help you grow closer to God through less than 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Consistency trumps intensity. When it comes to working out, eating healthy, or managing our finances, consistency always trumps intensity. We reach our major life goals through small, purposeful steps taken daily. The same is true in our spiritual lives. I truly believe you will grow closer to God by spending just 5 minutes a day with Him versus cramming in an hour once a month. The One Verse Devotional is here to help take away the barriers of spending time with God. Now, during your workout, drive to work, or even shopping for groceries, you can invest in your spiritual life.   http://phosphorusproject.com/