PARENTING 1

"I HAVE SINGLED HIM [Abraham] OUT SO that HE will DIRECT HIS SONS and their FAMILIES to KEEP the WAY of the LORD BY DOING WHAT IS RIGHT AND JUST. THEN I will DO for Abraham ALL that I have PROMISED.”
Genesis 18:19 (NLT)

• God has this to say about Abraham, Saying, He knew that Abraham would direct his household to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just.

• As a parent, you have the responsibility to direct your children to follow the way of God. If you loose the grip on your children, from the tender age, you might find it difficult to get them to serve God when they grow up.
• When a child is still at tender age, some parents ignorantly believe that the child has not known anything. But the truth is, children start learning from zero age. At three, a child has already formed the basic character Elements.
• A child character is built on basic character elements which are established at the tender age. Thus, you need to catch your children when they are still young.
• Start teaching your children the way of God early enough. Give them a bit of God's Word which they would not forget or depart from: "TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO, AND WHEN HE IS OLD HE WILL NOT DEPART FROM IT" (Proverbs 22:6 NKJV).
• If a child could comprehend what they are being taught in the school, even at the nursery stage, It shows that If such a child is taught the Word of God he or she would understand It.

• In the training of children, you would need God's help. You will need to pray, and also feed them with the Word of God:
6 AND YOU MUST COMMIT YOURSELVES WHOLEHEARTEDLY TO THESE COMMANDS THAT I AM GIVING YOU TODAY. 7 REPEAT THEM AGAIN AND AGAIN TO YOUR CHILDREN. TALK ABOUT THEM WHEN YOU ARE AT HOME AND WHEN YOU ARE ON THE ROAD, WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO BED AND WHEN YOU ARE GETTING UP. 8 TIE THEM TO YOUR HANDS AND WEAR THEM ON YOUR FOREHEAD AS REMINDERS. 9 WRITE THEM ON THE DOORPOSTS OF YOUR HOUSE AND ON YOUR GATES" (Deuteronomy 6:6-9 NLT).

• To train a child, you would need wisdom and patience:
  a. You feed them with the Word gradually and systematically.
  b. You must not overfeed them that they might not choke.
  c. You feed them According to the level of their understanding and consumption.
  d. And most importantly, you have the responsibility to set a good example for them, because they would live after you. IN other words, they would do what they see you doing, and not what you tell them to do. Children are copycats!
• Pay attention to child training that your may have peace tomorrow. Some have the thoughts that what should be made available for their children are the basic needs of life only.
• Although those things are important and necessary, but your children should not be lacking in the knowledge of God also.

• The Responsibility.

• If you are a professed Christian, a Believer in Christ Jesus; God has given those children of yours to you that you might train them for Him.
• They are God's Heritage (Psalm 127:3), you would be asked to give an account on how you raise them for Him.
• It is not enough to give them secular education, they should be taught to know God, His Word, and establish a relationship with Him.
• Parents, whatever you do not have, you cannot give. If your walk with God is not cordial or intimate enough, you might not be able to lead your children in the way of God.
• Whatever wrong you do today, would not only affect you, but would affect your children and the generation after.
• Reuben the first son of Jacob was not disciplined enough, he slept with his father's wife (Genesis 35:22), and when the father, Jacob, wanted to die, he cursed him that he would not Excel (Genesis 49:3,4).
• The birthright's Blessing which supposed to be given to Reuben was given to Joseph's children—Manasseh and Ephraim: "THE OLDEST SON OF ISRAEL WAS REUBEN. BUT SINCE HE DISHONORED HIS FATHER BY SLEEPING WITH ONE OF HIS FATHER'S CONCUBINES, HIS BIRTHRIGHT WAS GIVEN TO THE SONS OF HIS BROTHER JOSEPH.
  FOR THIS REASON, REUBEN IS NOT LISTED IN THE GENEALOGICAL RECORDS AS THE FIRSTBORN SON" (I Chronicles 5:1 NLT).
• Parents, what you do today would affect the generations after you. The tribe of Reuben became one of the least tribes in Israel because of the indiscipline of Reuben, their forefather.

• Some things you do today that you are calling a fun, might affect the generations after you, your posterity, negatively. You had a responsibility to live right and be a good example to the children God has given you. Do not let your children inherit a Curse from you, but a Blessing.

• Sin being committed by you today could be a legacy of Curse for your posterity. Therefore, build a strong relationship and communion with God.
• What you do not have, you cannot give as said earlier. If you are not a serious Christian, your children might not be as well. Your life would have a strong influence on your children, to a great extent (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15).
• The life you live would affect your children positively or negatively. Thus, you cannot afford to live a carefree and sinful life: "FOR I AM MINDFUL OF THE SINCERE FAITH WITHIN YOU [Timothy], WHICH FIRST DWELLED IN YOUR GRANDMOTHER LOIS AND YOUR MOTHER EUNICE, AND I AM SURE THAT IT IS IN YOU AS WELL" (2 Timothy 1:5 (New American Standard Bible).
• Things you do would tell on your children and their future. You are a model to the children God has given you. Timothy's parents' faith was instrumental to his faith, his salvation through Christ Jesus:
  14 BUT YOU [Timothy] MUST REMAIN FAITHFUL TO THE THINGS YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. 15 YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THE HOLY SCRIPTURES FROM CHILDHOOD, AND THEY HAVE GIVEN YOU THE WISDOM TO RECEIVE THE SALVATION THAT COMES BY TRUSTING in CHRIST JESUS" (2 Timothy 3:14,15 NLT).

• The truth is: No one would train your children for you. Some have the thoughts that their children would be trained in the school or the church they attend.

• If you had such a notion, you are mistaken. The responsibility is yours. The responsibility is given to parents.
• The children spent more time with you at home, than the numbers of hours they spent in the school and the church,
  except those who are in the boarding schools.
• In the Bible passage, our text, God says:
  "FOR I [God] KNOW THAT HE [Abraham] WILL COMMAND HIS CHILDREN, AND HIS HOUSEHOLD AFTER HIM TO KEEP THE WAY OF THE LORD, AND DO JUDGMENT AND JUSTICE: that for Abraham's sake the Lord may bring to effect all the things he hath spoken unto him" (Genesis 18:19 Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition).
• Believers are enjoined to emulate Abraham, that they also might have children who desire to serve God. So, build a strong relationship and fellowship with God.

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• It is God's Will that you live in health, thus, whatever is contrary to your sound health is cursed in Jesus' name.
• Whatever is not planted in your body by God is uprooted in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
  Peace!
  TO BE CONTINUED

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!