Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Proverbs 1:8-10
Prov 1:8-10
Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
Eph 6:1-4
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Recently in the news a couple were found guilty and sentenced because their son shot and killed several fellow students at his school. God has always expected parents to teach, guide, discipline, and train their children to love him and to serve him. Abraham is commended because God knew that he would teach his children and all in his house to obey him as God. He expects the same today.
This means that adult parents make choices for their children and then enforce these choices, whether they like it or not. Young children (and even teenagers) are not capable of making a lot of decisions that may affect their entire lives. A part of this training of young minds is to teach them to make good decisions, with consideration of the consequences that will or may follow.
Two lessons that must be taught are respect for authority and that actions have consequences. God is the ultimate authority. When we make our parenting decisions on the word of God and then communicate that to our children, they learn that God is supreme. Parental authority must be taught and practiced and then, respect for civil authority, including school, police, and government.
My opinion is that we shield and protect our children too much. When a child is learning to walk, they fall down. They have to learn that failure is a step toward success, so they get back up and try again. We don’t want them to get hurt, but touching something hot teaches them to think about the consequences. Should we protect them from harm? Yes! By all means! Should we let them learn some lessons the hard way? Yes! This teaches them to think.
O Lord God, give us wisdom in raising our children and influencing our grandchildren. Help me use the wisdom that I have learned as an adult to guide some young person to want to follow Jesus and live for you. I do ask that you protect our young people from harm. Guide them as they learn about life and about the pitfalls of the devil that seem to be so enticing. Help me always be a good example for them to follow and to show them how to live. I humbly pray in the name of Jesus my Lord and my Savior.
Robert
