(Adapted from an article by Pastor Troy Calvert)
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” Proverbs 22:6
The emphasis is on starting when God gives us the child, and not waiting until they are older. Children learn the way they live, thus they must be trained in the way they should go.
Giving discipline and direction is all important. The Bible teaches that all (our children included) inherit a sinful nature from Adam. Thus, discipline or structure in the home, in the form of rules, must be enforced if our children are to learn the life-lessons they need. “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” Proverbs 29:15 Parents must not fail their children’s need of proper training by parental inconsistencies in this area of structure and discipline. The right demands must be placed upon the child to achieve the right conduct on their part. A child’s development is according to what is being required of them on a consistent basis. This is what training is all about.
Teaching a child to meet your requirements (obedience) is the key to their understanding the need to be obedient to God’s Word. As we put into practice the principles that we find in God’s Word, we can find the direction that is needed for living.
Are you training your children to use God’s Word in order to make wise decisions? This training provides your children with the needed spiritual offense. Ephesians 6:10-18 teaches us that our defensive and offensive weapon is the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. If you want your children to be able to resist the devil, to deny their own flesh, to fight off the world, and to fight the good fight of faith in laying hold on eternal life, impart to them the training according to God’s Word. Help them to see there is only one way in which they should go and it is God’s way.
Children have to be taught the scriptures and trained to live according to the ways of God’s Word, for the wisdom of God’s Word to be their focus. When children have been taught and trained unto knowing and understanding the wisdom of God’s Word, this will enable them to relate to parental guidance that is according to Biblical reasoning. “That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.” Psalm 78:7
SHARING
