“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6, ESV)
This verse is often used as a “promise” or guarantee verse among well-intentioned people. Many parents over the years have dealt with the guilt of a wayward child because they believed they did not train up the child in the right way. The Proverbs though, are wisdom sayings, not guarantees. A popular example from our day might be, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” No one really believes if you eat an apple every day you’ll never go to the doctor – but it’s still a wise saying worthy of application.
While we have responsibility for training our children, let’s not forget that in life there are no guarantees. We can only fully trust in God, and in His providence and passion for His children. Today, pray that God empowers you to train well, and that He also release you to fully trust Him when it comes to your children’s lives.
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32, ESV)
Forgiveness. The very concept of forgiveness is the core of the faith. God forgave us through Christ, not by our merit or works, but by His love. When it comes to family and children, sometimes forgiveness seems elusive because we can quickly become bound up in measuring effort versus forgiveness. As a pastor, one of the biggest areas I have seen this dwell in is in parents forgiving themselves, or each other.
No one expects you to be a perfect parent, not even God Himself. However God does expect us to forgive our spouse, our kids, and even ourselves when we mess up. Forgiveness is the safety net below the high wire of the family. We can either cling to the high wire and not move, or we can walk step by step, knowing when we fall we are safe. Today, pray that God expand your net of forgiveness in your family, starting with yourself.
”Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interest of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4, ESV)
When my oldest daughter Katie was 5, I took her with our church group to serve in New Orleans. 2 years after Katrina had hit, areas of the city were still untouched. Many people questioned my thought process, since New Orleans is such a “wicked” city, but I knew the possibility of positive influence on her from that trip would far outweigh the negative. Now 11, Katie has recently returned from another trip with me, to San Pedro Sula Honduras this past December.
Making service a priority in your home starts with 2 things: 1) you must model it, and 2) you must intentionally place your children into situations where they can serve. Don’t buy into the lie that they need to be 15, 20, or 25 to do so. Kids naturally love others, and the early years are the most fertile to foster the attitude Philippians 2:3,4 speaks of. Today, pray that God increase your eyes and ears to be made aware of service opportunities. Maybe it begins with the neighbor across the street…maybe it begins with a trip. However it begins, pray that God shows it clearly, and trust Him in the serving.
Written by Steve Rose
