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Saturday's Devotion (2-10-07)
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)
I truly believe this verse, and if you look at the world you'll see that it's true. You've heard of "the cycle of violence," where if a father is abusive, the son usually grows up and does the same to his kid. This is a cycle, this is what the child learned from his parent(s). It's not just what you teach with words, but more importantly it is what you teach with action that the child picks up and keeps for the rest of their life. Whether what you're teaching is good or bad, they will pick it up and it will stay with them. You might tell me, "Hey, you don't have kids, how can you say this?" Well, it wasn't long ago when I was a kid myself, and I evaluate myself. I know of some things that I've picked up from my parents: both good and bad. So, live life the best you can (for Jesus,) and be a shining example for your children.
Of course there will be a time of rebellion with the children, where they seem nothing like you, but that period is TEMPORARY. Your values, your beliefs and the way you live will still be a part of them. You just have to know that if you don't want your kid to smoke or do drugs, then you can't smoke or do drugs. If you don't want your kid having sex without being married, then you can't do it either. My brother smokes, and I remember when his oldest son was about five, maybe even younger... The boy started to act like he was smoking a cigarette. He took one and started puffing on it (It wasn't lit.) My brother didn't really dig it, but hey... He was his dad and ultimately he as his dad set the standard of what "cool" is. Well, all I can say is that if you want your child to turn out right and go down the right path, then you have to look at yourself in the mirror first. You can't just expect them to turn out right because you gave them a little speech or because you punish them, you have to do right too! You have to raise them in God's Word by first living His Word and then teaching it with words.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this message and for all things. Please forgive us of all our sins as we forgive all those who've wronged us. Help us to love and obey you, and everyone else. Also, help those with children to raise their children in your ways. And for those of us who weren't trained in your ways as a child, help us to deny everything that we know and to take up your ways. In Jesus name. A-men!
God bless