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1/29/10
Raising a Godly Family
Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
In order to train a child in a way, there must be a general understanding of the way. I do not teach a sewing class because I dont know how to sew, It takes me thirty minutes to thread the needle. I am sure I could learn to sew, but I haven't. I cannot teach anyone to sew. I must know a subject before teaching it. I cannot lead my children to walk in righteousness, if I have not applied myself to learn the way of righteousness. Too many parents think that others will make up for their lack of study, and it simply doesn't work that way. I must know the way if I am to teach the way.
Mom and Dad, please give yourselves to the study of God's Word. No one can do this work for you, The Pastor can help guide, but He cannot train your children. The Christian School can help, but it is only that, it is a help. Unless the parents understand the solemn stewardship of parenthood, our young people will be severely handicapped in the way of righteousness. God has many commands for parents. Know them, study them, practice them, and by the grace of God let's raise a Godly generation.
Pastor Jossund
1/30/10
Raising a Godly Family (part 2)
A second thought on this verse is that there can be no training without a relationship, and there is no relationship without a purpose. I have watched with great sadness as a parent belittles and mocks their child publicly, and then wonders why they are so bitter and rebellious. Others ignore, some abuse, and still others smother their children, none of which foster a proper training relationship. Our children were not given to us to own, but rather in trust as God will require them back again as they reach adulthood. If a child rejects God in their teen years there was a serious problem in the relationship with the parents. My calling as a parent is to prepare my child to hear the voice of God as He calls him to emerge from the family and to embrace the purpose for which he was created.
The only relationship that reflects the principles of stewardship parenting is that in which a parent understands that there is a day in which the child must be ready to interact with his Creator. If a child is not ready a parent has failed. Just as the drill sergeant must be diligent in maintaining a specific relationship with a recruit knowing that this soldier will one day be called upon to be ready, so must a parent be equally dogged in the relationship with their children. We need a generation that when they are old they will not depart from it, but this will not come without parents taking this training seriously.
1/31/10
How to Mend the Past
Psa 40:17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me:
thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
There is nothing more frustrating than to discover a truth, and realize it is too late. I have spoken with dozens couples who would give their life savings to go back to the time they we dating and to do it again, right. They were unsaved at the time, and just did what seemed normal. But now with the knowledge of the truth, there is a scar that the enemy will not leave alone. So it is with parents who feel like they lost their children because of a lack of knowledge. It is difficult to come to grips with the fact that I could have done more for my child if only I had known more of the Bible. Most people saved later in life have these regrets.
Let me say this first. There is no such thing as a perfect parent! Even at our best we still fall far short of God's best. You are not responsible for the truth you did not know, but youare responsible for the truth you now know.
There are two choices that present themselves at this juncture. The first is that you can live in condemnation over your past, or second you can embrace the truth for this stage of life, which is that God is in the business of helping less than perfect people. At my best I still need to ask God to make up for my lack. If I don't realize my lack until later, God is still able to make up for it, if I will be faithful to ask. Though it is never an excuse to reject known truth, God can mend anything, broken hearts, wayward children, a departed spouse. The truth is the only hope a parent has at any stage in life is the grace of God. May we humble ourselves and receive the grace we need.
