Proverbs 22:6-Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
TRAIN=paideuó in the greek and is defined as I discipline, educate, train, (b) more severely: I chastise.
We are reminded in scripture that children are a heritage from the Lord. In other words, they are God's gift given to parents to raise in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
With that being said, we as parents are to make it a top priority to raise our children with the knowledge and understanding of who God is. First, by our own example of a life of one who knows God, honors Him and obey Him.
What are your goals as a parent who is responsible for raising your child as God commands you to based on the scriptures? What is your goal? is it your agenda to raise them to be self sufficient or God dependent ? What is your goal in raising your child? What is it?
If we are parents who confess Christ as our Savior then raising our children according to scripture should be a priority.
How do we begin to train our children as God commands us to? Glad you ask!
Let's listen to how God instruct Moses to train the generations of his time. This same word applies to us. God changes not for He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
God and His word is one! Let's listen to our instructions from the Word of God on how to raise our children as He commands us to.
Deuteronomy 6:6-9 -These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be [written] on your heart and mind. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your [b]children [impressing God’s precepts on their minds and penetrating their hearts with His truths] and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up. 8 And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand (forearm), and they shall be used as [c]bands (frontals, frontlets) on your forehead. 9 You shall write them on the [d]doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Believe it or not, in everything we are doing with our kids, we are training them either for gain or loss in their life.
Our primary task as parents is to prepare our sons and daughters to walk according to God’s plan, His will, and His purpose for their lives.
Parents, take your children to Sunday school and church regularly so that they may receive knowledge and understanding of God's Word. Teach them to pray by letting them see you pray and study God's Word.
Parents, teach your children by allowing them to read a bible verse each day. Teach them to pray at meal time, at bed time and when they arise early in the morning. Teach them to pray when you get in the car and head out on the road. Let them pray for safe travel to and from their destinations. Teach them to pray for family members, friends, their teachers, neighbors, the needy and poor, the sick, etc.
Parents, once you have done your BEST in what God commanded of you and your children are grown and out of the home, they can either follow the path that you have taught them that God has outlined in His Word for them to follow or they can follow the ways of the world. Either way, there are consequences for both.
Parents, if you have done what God told you to do in raising your child in the way he or she should go according to scripture, you have done well, regardless of the course of action they may take in later life..
When we have done our best to raise our children in godly homes will they still stray? Possibly! BUT, if the seed is planted, it may take years, but they will come back.
The good news is the "seed" of God's Word has been sown into their hearts by you and they will eventually take root.
One thing of a surety is only what we do for Christ will last. A personal relationship with Jesus will be all that matters when we all and our children come to the end of life on this earth.
The example of praying parents is the foundation for a child's faith!
Parents, are you training your children as God commands you to?
Ponder this question on today parents.
God bless.
Debra