Gospel Responses #256: The Goal is not Correction, the Goal is Love.

Proverbs 6:20,21 "O my son, keep your father's commandments. Do not neglect your mother's teaching. Tie it always to your heart/wrap it around your neck."

This sounds like a strong command, but what are the "commandments of the Father"? What are the "commandments of the Father" and what are the "teachings of the Mother"?

The Father's commandment is God's commandment, which the Father willingly chooses, to love God and man.

The "mother's teachings" are those that the mother is willing to learn and follow, which are unconditional love and self-sacrificing love.

Rather than forcing such a parent's way of life on the child, God is working in every way possible so that such a parent's way of life will naturally permeate the child and so that the child will find God's love in the parent's way of life.

I believe that this verse indicates that it is important to be in constant contact with God's love so that it attaches itself to our bodies and hearts, and not to correct our children's behavior.

God does not force us to turn toward Him. He is a God who works generously for our good so that we will want to turn to Him.

The more we know Him, the more we are filled with joy. And in that joy, children come to know God!

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This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, a devoted student of the Bible who passionately embraces the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on the Gospels as a way to reach out to others and spread the message of Jesus. We're sharing her message here so that you too can experience the joy that comes from the Gospel that has filled her heart.