Wednesday,
April 5, 2023
Train up a child in
the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
We are finishing our
series today on parenting to change a culture falling-apart. We’ve shared about the need for parental stepping-up
when it comes to involvement, because of the violent nature of today’s world,
as well as the process of how to go about that with wisdom, integrity, and developing
interest. It’s all about how violence
trickles-down from adult actions to imprint young minds, and, to combat that
effect on our children we must train them up.
This morning we
close with some thoughts about what happens when a parent effectively trains
children with Solomon’s wisdom, pointed at getting to know God in Christ
Jesus. What does that look like?
The Proverb writer
declares that if the Process
is followed (training), and the Purpose is understood (the way he
should go), then the Product
will be that, when
he is old he will not depart from it.
What does that
mean? The word itself has many
applications, but the key idea that seems to fit the context is: The child will not
leave unfinished business when it comes to the important matters of life.
Central among the
vital issues of life stands relationship.
According to the Bible, a right relationship with God is first, both in
chronology and importance. In all other
human relationships, marriage, friendship, parenting, or business, the kind of
relationship we build will determine the kind of eternity we experience. A child that is trained in the way
(the purpose of God for his life), will not leave business unfinished.
Does that mean every
child will eventually accept God, and serve Him well? No, but it stresses the parental
responsibility to move in that direction, giving the child every opportunity to
respond.
For You Today
Here is an excellent target to shoot at for building a home that will set great parameters for serious parenting, shared with me by our friend Maria:
- My home won’t be the place where kids gather to go against their parents rules and wishes.
- My home won’t be the place where I turn a blind eye to underage drinking.
- My home won’t be the place to meet up with someone you shouldn’t be around.
- My home won’t be the place that encourages drama.
- However, my home will be the place to go when life is drowning them, a place of refuge and encouragement.
- My home will be the place to go when they need wisdom.
- My home will be the place to go when they need to hear truth and be held accountable.
- My home will be the place to go to experience the love and goodness of God.
- My home will be the place to go to find peace and rest for their souls.
- My home will be the place where they find forgiveness and grace.
- My home will be a place where a kid can be a kid!
- My home will be the place where both fun and holiness exist together.
- My home will be a place of healing for their hurts.
- My home will be a place where no one goes hungry.
- My home will be a place where I will love them as my own.
- My home will be a place where parents can rest easy, knowing their kids are safe, taken care of, and in a healthy environment. That will be my legacy.[1]
There are about 2,500 devotional
posts and 400 sermons in the Rocky Road Devotions
library. To dig deeper explore
some of these: Happy Father’s Day – PART
ONE and PART
TWO and PART
THREE
Title Image: Pixabay.com
1 & 2 Images without citation are in public
domain.
Unless noted, Scripture quoted
from The New Living Translation©
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