judgmental attitude that so often accompanies legitimate attempts at reproof. I am referring to the kind of “spirit” that leads a child to believe that his parents are never or rarely pleased with him. When the Lord Jesus was reproving the Ephesian church for losing her first love, He began with a list of those behaviors that pleased Him (Rev. 2). Perhaps the most effective safeguard against this provocation is for parents to purpose to praise, commend, and acknowledge biblical achievement with greater