Children – Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.
For those of us who are in Christ, our abundant joy is to know the Creator of the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all that lies within them and to love Him with all our hearts, with all our souls, with all our minds, and with all our strength. Awesome is our privileged relationship with Him, and blessed is the promise of an eternity in His fellowship.
Together with the joy of knowing and loving God comes the profound responsibility to instill a passion to walk with Him in our children. For just as the Father has chosen us in Christ to be reconciled to Him, He has also commissioned us to teach our children to keep the way of the Lord that they may walk in righteousness and justice.[1] As Oswald Chambers says in My Upmost for His Highest, “No one is born either naturally or supernaturally with character; it must be developed,”[2] If we want our children to know and love God and to demonstrate His character, we need to live as those committed to raising them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Surely, going to services on Sunday and participating in a church body are necessary and important, for as we assemble with other Christians, our children will hear about the Lord our God and learn to observe His statutes.[3] Yet, our sacred trust requires more since we are to continually instruct our children about the Lord, teaching them while sitting at home, when out walking, before we go to bed, and as we rise in the morning.[4] We are to put songs about the Lord on their lips as a witness of His goodness and to put prayers in their hearts for His continued protection and provision.[5]
Beautiful is the Lord’s promise to reward our faithfulness to teach our children about Him. Heartening is the hope that our sons and daughters will place their confidence in Him, for they, having learned about Him from our lips, will not easily forget His works nor readily fail to keep His commandments.[6] Our instruction to them will lead them in righteous paths, protecting them when they sleep, being a lamp to them, and keeping them from evil behavior.[7] Faithful parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or friend, rejoice and watch in awe as the Lord pours out His Spirit on the children in your life, and anticipate the day when each will say the words you long to hear, “I am the Lord’s.”[8]
My prayer for you sweet, precious child
Is for a heart that’s tender, mild
For joy that’s ever full, complete
As you reside at Jesus’ feet
May faithfulness embrace your soul
With goodness, peace, and self-control
When tried may patience reign within
And kindness cover others’ sin
May you forever trust our King
Who shelters you beneath His wing
And you will never feel alone
For love flows down from heaven’s throne
[1] Genesis 18:19
[2] Oswald Chambers in My Upmost for His Highest.
[3] Deuteronomy 31:12-13
[4] Deuteronomy 6:7
[5] Deuteronomy 31:19
[6] Psalm 78:5-7
[7] Proverbs 6:22-24
[8] Isaiah 44:3,5
