Thursday - "Training and Instruction"

Ephesians 6:1-4: Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 "so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." 4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

The last part of this verse from Ephesians gives us an alternative behavior to yesterday's irritation and infuriation...teach what God wants to our kids. This morning as we take a quick peek into this, I think it's important to remember three things about bible-based guidance and parenting.

1) You can't teach your child what you don't know. If we are going to guide our children in the "training and instruction of the Lord," we have to know what that is. What does God say about big things in the life of your child? How many times should they forgive? What are their responsibilities as children toward authority? Should they give a portion of their allowance to the local church? What happens when their friends pick on them for their faith? If we are going to teach them...we must first know it ourselves. Spend some time studying and memorizing the Bible...and then pass what you have learned along.

2) You can't teach your child what you don't do. I have to admit something to you. As a Pastor, it is much easier for me to tell people what they should do with their lives than actually live it out myself. However, I continually try to be authentic...to challenge people to do things that I have either struggled with in the past...or are currently working on in my own life. Same with your kids. If you are going to instruct them in a spiritual discipline, be sure that you are doing it now or are working on doing it. Your kids see through hypocrisy more than you know.

3) You can't teach your child what you don't believe. Very similar to the last point, but I break it out separately for a reason. So many of us tell our kids to pray for things...but deep inside we don't believe it will happen. We instruct them not to worry...but we secretly believe that they have every right to. If they are going to really learn from us...we have to share God's instruction with the conviction that He really will come through. Teach expectantly. No matter how logical your mind is...it's your child-like faith that will show your son/daughter that you are living out your beliefs.

Tomorrow, we'll pray through another scripture together. I'm looking forward to it.

Blessings,
Pastor Brian