Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Proverbs 23:12-18
Prov 23:12-18
12 Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge. 13 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. 14 If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol. 15 My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad. 16 My inmost being will exult when your lips speak what is right. 17 Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day. 18 Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
Col 3:19-21
Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
When I was growing up, my grandparent lived in Africa. They would write us letters and mom would reply. It would normally take about three weeks for a letter to go one way to its destination. Phone calls were price prohibitive, so only in dire emergency situations were they ever made. Today, my brother spends time in the same country in Africa each year and we can talk on the phone at no extra cost to either, send emails and text messages freely. Most of the time we can be in touch within minutes and in the worst situations, in just a few hours.
The internet and related technologies have given us tremendous advantages and opportunities that were science fiction only a few years ago. But as with so many things, along with all the good comes evil. The internet has destroyed families and family life for so many. Even without considering the evils of porn, ungodly chats, or meeting people online, just the time spent on phones and computers, and the lack of togetherness has taken its toll and has ruined many families.
I have watched many times as couples and families have sat at a table in a restaurant without ever saying a word to each other, but all stay glued to their phones. And at times, they actually communicate by text while sitting across the table from each other. There has been more than one generation that has grown up isolated and has become addicted to online living. This hinders emotional and mental development among young people and gives them a false sense of reality.
O Lord God, give your people wisdom to train their children to follow you and to want to live for you. Help each of us honestly monitor and control our time spent on the internet, especially when we deceive ourselves into thinking that we are using it for our good. Help us to know how to enjoy face to face communication with others and to use it to your glory. I thank you for the technology that allows us to reach and to teach others in distant places. I pray in Jesus’ name.
Robert
