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His image,what it means to be a

person.

Just as we must nurture our

human relationships,we also must

nurture our relationship with God.

As we have seen in our study of

uninvolved parents,a distant

relationship with our children is

harmful to them.It is contrary to

their nature as created persons.

Likewise,a distant relationship with

God is harmful to us.God wants

parents to have a close,intimate

relationship with their children just

as He wants to with each human

being.As authentic love is God’s

primary motive with relation to us,it

should be the godly parent’s primary

motive.

Achieving Balance

AsScripturereveals,God’sloveis

balancedbyHisanger;Hismercy

(forgiveness)isbalancedbyHisjustice.

Godhasgivenparentsauthorityover,

andresponsibilityfor,theirchildren.

Parentingisallaboutbalance—a

balancebetweenexpectationsand

consequences,abalancebetween

disciplineandmercy(forgiveness)—in

essence,abalancebetweennurtureand

control.Whenparentsmakeaparental

decision,theyshouldaskthisquestion:

“Doesthischoicereflectmydeepest

Chapter 7

SIDEBAR7.6
The Attributes of God

Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel
no love for a child she has borne? But even if that were
possible,I would not forget you! ...I will comfort you
there... as a mother comforts her child (Isaiah 49:15;
66:13).
How often I have wanted to gather your children
togetherasahenprotectsherchicksbeneathherwings,
but you wouldn’t let me (Matthew 23:37).
Jesus replied, “You must love the LORDyour God
with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind”
(Matthew 22:37).
Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their
children.Those who love their children care enough to
discipline them (Proverbs 13:24).
Fathers,do not aggravate your children or they will
become discouraged (Colossians 3:21).

God Is Faithful
Understand, therefore, that the LORDyour God is
indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his
covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his
unfailing love on those who love him and obey his
commands (Deuteronomy 7:9).
Yourunfailinglove,OLORD,isasvastastheheavens;
your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds (Psalm
36:5).
ThefaithfulloveoftheLORDneverends!Hismercies
never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin
afresh each morning (Lamentations 3:22–23).
God Is Patient
The LORDis slow to get angry, but his power is
great ...(Nahum 1:3a).
They refused to obey and did not remember the
miracles you had done for them. Instead, they became
stubborn and appointed a leader to take them back to
theirslaveryinEgypt!ButyouareaGodof forgiveness,
graciousandmerciful,slowtobecomeangry,andrichin
unfailing love. You did not abandon them (Nehemiah
9:17). continued