Raising Godly Children
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” ( Proverbs 22:6)
In order to raise godly children, parents must do the following.
1.Parents must model godliness. Children often model the character of their parents. Parents must be people of impeccable character if they are going to raise godly children. Children raised in a loving home by parents with good character, typically mimic the virtues demonstrated by their parents.
In contrast, parents who are not around, who lack self control in their speech or with their anger, etc, produce the same character in their children. They won’t be able to cultivate righteousness in them. In fact, the hypocrisy will only lead them to rebel.
2.Parents must not only demonstrate godly character but also teach them from Scripture. This is how God the Father develops godliness in us. Ephesians 5:26 describes how Christ washes the church with the water of the Word to make her blameless and holy. Parents must do the same with their children.
3.Parents must discipline their children. The word “discipline” tends to have a negative connotation but it shouldn’t. It is a rich word. It means: “training to act in accordance with rules”, “activity, exercise, or regimen that develops or improves a skill”, or “punishment inflicted by way of correction or training.” However, discipline should never be given in anger, it should be excessive, it should be consistent and should create intimacy not distance.
4.Parents must avoid provoking their children to anger.As we consider discipline, it is very important for parents not to discipline children in a way that provokes rebellion. Colossians 3:21 says, “Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged".
5.Finally, in order to raise godly children, parents must know them. As with all the points, this is a reflection of how God develops godliness in us as his children. He knows us (Jeremiah 1:5). God knew Jeremiah intimately. Similarly, David spoke of how God knew him in Psalm 139:1: “O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.”
To search means to “examine thoroughly". Similarly, parents must know their children if they are going to raise them in godliness and lead them into God’s plan for their lives. In order to know their children and the way they are wired, parents must spend quality time with them.
TODAY'S PRAYER
Father in the name of Jesus, help me to be committed to raising all the children you have put in my care in a godly manner so that they will become good ambassadors of the kingdom. Amen.
You're welcome to share your thought on the comment section. Thanks for stopping by.
That's the way to do it but people have free will. There's no guarantee that your child will become a Christian and live a godly life. I watched a generation of children grow up in the church. About 90% left when they grew up and never returned. They got into sexual immorality at the same rate as those who didn't grow up in church. It's really discouraging.
I don't think your stats of 90% leaving the faith when they grew up is correct. It's just an assumption. It's more profitable to the child and the parents if the child is taught godly values from childhood. When parents lives reflect what they teach their kids, such kids hardly turn away from the teachings of the parents. Thanks for your contribution.