Train up a child

The enthusiasm of our grandchildren having preschool at our house is such a joy.

When Bubba found something green in the kitchen he gladly pointed it out multiple times stating proudly, “Green one!”.

When Faye discovered my socks were the color she was searching for (blue) she excitedly pointed, shouted the color, jumped up and down while clapping her hands.

Scripture is clear that we as parents and grandparents are to train our children.

They are not always excited about that training, but our responsibility is equal whether teaching something they enjoy or not.

God never intended us to “guess” what was the best things to teach, He gave us a guide.

We should revere God and teach our children to do so.

Proverbs 1:7 NKJV — The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

We should be reading, studying, memorizing, and applying God’s Word to our lives as well as using it for the foundation of all we train our children in.

Proverbs 30:5 KJV — Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Hebrews 4:12 NKJV — For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

As parents, we should avoid using anger as our motivation for obedience, for even young children resent being bullied into action.

Ephesians 6:4 NKJV — And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Rather, we should train them to honor God and the authority God has placed over them, steeping our attitudes and actions in the reality of the value each person has before God, every single one so precious that He died for them.

Romans 5:8 KJV — But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

There are more instructions for parents within the scriptures and it’s both our pleasure and responsibility to seek God’s guidance as we train up the children He has placed in our families.

Proverbs 22:6 NKJV — Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Clearly, the way we should go and train our children to follow is the one Jesus opened to us through His sacrifice and resurrection.

Matthew 7:14 KJV — Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your gift of Your Word. Thank You for children. Lord, please help each one of us to apply Your Word and Your truth daily. Thank You for how You have given us all we need in scripture, especially the instruction to train our children in Your ways. Lord, You are the One who not only created us, You understand us completely, You died to save us from our rebellion against You. Lord, thank You for Your gift of salvation. What an awesome God You are! Thank You for the opportunity to raise up others in the training and admonition of the Lord. I love You, Jesus. Amen.

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