Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

Col.3:21 Fathers, don't provoke your children, so that they won't be discouraged.

There are Fathers of the flesh, and Fathers of the Spirit, fathers of the flesh provoke their children to anger toget results. Fathers of the Spirit provoke their children to love and the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 10:24 Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works.

Gal.5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,{or, faithfulness} 5:23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 5:24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.
5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let's also walk by the Spirit.
5:26 Let's not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.

Men are particularly noted for provoking others toget results at work or in their businesses, such provoking does get results because that is the pattern of all flesh upon this earth. But here Paul speaks to those under another rule of law, the law of love, what is the law of love? It is the Royal Kingly law from our heaven Father YHWH who is love.

James 2:8 However, if you fulfill the royal law, according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself,"{Leviticus 19:18} you do well.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

1Cor. 13:1 If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.
13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am nothing. 13:3 If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don't have love, it profits me nothing.

These brothers and sisters were born new, from a new creation Christ Jesus by God's own love, they were no part of this world, and its practices of laws for sin, which means, laws created for punishing sins of the flesh. Law they themselves were freed from in the righteous life of Christ. Hence, Christ must indwell them, and if they wanted their children to know the Christ they must show the Christ and how he works in those born again. What is the key to being born again?

1 John 4:21 This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother.

1 John 4:16 We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.

It should be no secret, love! Fathers should now provoke their family to walk in love as Christ is working in them to do the same, without love they lose Christ, for it is the identifying mark of his personality.

1 John 4:12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love has been perfected in us.

When fathers put down the rules they should be out of love, and firmly applied, not arbitrarily out of anger, or because they don't want to deal with the problems. Our Father in heaven disciplines those he loves, he knows we are flesh and we hold in common all the problems of human race. But if a brothers is anointed he knows the kindness of God's love undeservedly as it is.

Titus. 3:1 Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,
3:2 to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men. 3:3 For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
3:4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, 3:5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
3:6 whom he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior;

This grace, or undeserved kindness should move his heart to practice it to all mankind let alone his family. When a brother in Christ falls into ownership and control and discipline his children because he does not want to look bad, he provokes them and discourage them causing much resentment that will have to be dealt with for the rest of their lives. God discipline us from love, not because he is worried about his name or looking bad, God is not control by fear of loss or looking bad.

Heb.2:9 But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone. 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many children to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
2:11 For both he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brothers{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."},
2:12 saying, "I will declare your name to my brothers. In the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise."{Psalm 22:22}
2:13 Again, "I will put my trust in him."{Isaiah 8:17} Again, "Behold, here I am with the children whom God has given me."{Isaiah 8:18}

Love cannot fail, and nothing is truly righteous and good unless it is done in pure-worship, which comes from love. If God were worried about his looking bad Adam and Eve would have never been given freedom of choice, or allowed to sin. God would have constantly been on them provoking them to obey by harassment through order after order, and rule upon rule.

Ephesians 6:4 You fathers, don't provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Hebrews 12:8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have been made partakers, then are you illegitimate, and not children.

James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 3:18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

See also: www.nu-truth.com