like a Father withhis children.

1 Thes. 2:9-12 (ESV)
For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. [10] You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. [11] For you know how, like a father with his children, [12] we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
“Like a Father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you, and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.” I don’t know that I am always the best at that sort of thing. Sometimes I am too embarrassed by my own sins to really do that well, exhorting, encouraging, and charging. I try. There is a place for it. I don’t like it when people attach it to sanctification, especially when it is done in a way that implies progression in sanctification through good works. I’m of a mind that either you are sanctified in baptism or you are not. And all the talk about broad and narrow comes off a bit contrived. The Christian is sanctified, he lives a sanctified life. He is sanctified by the work of God through the means of grace, Baptism, Lord’s Supper, the word of God, the gospel. And having been sanctified, the Christian does good works. They don’t merit justification or sanctification. But they are done. And they should be encouraged. It is good for the health of the parishioners. But do it like a loving father with his children. Not a jail warden. Never should the person be left feeling forsaken from God because he hasn’t done “good enough.” Fathers are funny. They can be disappointed, and often are. But it is almost impossible for them to turn their backs on their children. It really doesn’t matter how bad it is, the father waits to see his prodigal come back, and is always reaching out.