Deuteronomy 6:16-25

Parenting is one of the most challenging professions in the history of life, yet it offers the best benefits to all involved. While it’s easy to bring children into the world, it’s another story raising, and training them to be model citizens. Oftentimes, how we raise our children stems from our own upbringing, and many of the values and standards we apply to our kids, were what we once lived by under our parent’s wings. I notice daily at work, how little children tend to imitate their parents, or share some of their mannerisms, which is normal, as the child grows and adapts to their mother or father. It’s always wise to first develop a level of maturity and understanding, naturally and spiritually, before having children, because once they arrive, they come packed full of questions.

God instituted marriage for many purposes, and one such is having a solid foundation from which the seed of man could always be connected to, and nurtured from where it came from. The body of Christ was always responsible for training, teaching, and nurturing their children in the things of God, but trying to get modern-day kids to understand the Bible has become more challenging, due to the many distractions from schools, and unhealthy propaganda from various media sources. Children today, believe more of what they see on TV,  than the words from the mouths of their parents. It’s sad when your own child will believe a lie from a stranger, than a truth from their own blood. God knew this day would come, and urged His people, even in the days of Moses, to walk according to His way, and do good in His sight consistently, so that they could grow in knowledge and wisdom, and prosper in good times, and bad.

Many children suffer, because parents aren’t investing enough time in doing the things of God themselves. They expect their children to do all things right, yet they live fifty percent for God, and the other fifty percent living as they please. You can’t expect a child who sees you daily, to not notice your spiritual imbalance. Kids see everything, and some are bold enough to bring certain things to light, in front of their parents. God even uses children as a way to get their parent’s attention, in case they tend to veer too far out of bounds.

To those who have children, God expects you to know His Word, and understand it’s purpose, so that the knowledge you obtain, can be passed on to your children. Imagine a church, where children were educated on the Bible at home, so when they went to church or school, or listened to others bring forth messages, they could have a better understanding of what was being preached. Some children could even utilize the spirit of discernment, and tell when men are preaching false doctrine. Unfortunately, we spend too much time prepping and priming our children to be the next Kobe Bryant (may he rest in peace), or Patrick Mahomes, rather than soak them with the Word of God at an early age. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

Walk in love,

Ell