|
|
- Our
children watch us closely and we must take care all the
time.
The test of a person's sincerity
is his behavior when he is alone. And most people with children
behave with their children in ways they would never behave around
other people.
- Our
lives are lived our before our children. We cannot perform twenty-four
hours a day, so we must constantly present ourselves to the Lord
to be deeply changed.
An example of behavior treated
casually is swearing. There is no excuse for swearing. If a parent
swears when angry, so will the child. The problem is that swearing
in itself is damaging, because the very expression passes from
the mouth back into the heart of the speaker, and defiles him.
That is the reason
we want our children to have tongues free from cursing - not
just because it will make them socially acceptable.
When we realize the
real reasons for these things, the vision can be passed
on to our children, and Christian parents must understand
that they are training soldiers.
Make a turn today. Do not
let your children see you sit passively during a movie or even
a commercial you know dishonors the Lord.
Teach your children the difference
between public and private. Do not allow bathroom jokes and crude
speech in your home.
Memorize God's Word regularly,
and you will have something powerful and eternal to talk about
all the time.
Even when your children try the
world (and they will - they won't just take your word for everything)
they will have a protection from the penetration that sin usually
makes, because they will have been marinated in the purity that
has been prayed into the homelife.
There is no such thing as a perfect
parent - we all know that. But today's Christian world seems
to be made up of compromises, and the parent who arises from
bended knee will have an unction to protect the atmosphere of
the home.
It won't feel like a straight
jacket - it will be free. And when the child dips a toe into
the things he has been taught are not right, he will always be
comparing them with what he has been taught.
Instead of trying to protect our
children from the world by insulation, let's allow the Lord to
dwell freely in our homes by obeying in the areas the world tries
so desperately to invade.
When you are not there, the
songs and verses you have taught your children will come zooming
into their minds, and they will remember what was important to
you.
The real question is, what
do you really want for your children? There ought to be
only one thing - Jesus. If there is anything else on the list,
you'd better get right.
|
View
past devotionals.