I've never desired for the salvation of a single soul in my life as much as for my sons. As I look down at his sweet little face, I am burdened with a deep need for constant prayer on behalf of His salvation. And although I know that it is but the grace and mercy of God alone that can rescue Him, it is my fervent prayer and desire that I might be a tool in the Lord's hand to draw Him to the foot of the cross.
It is hard to look at your precious little baby and remember that within them lies the root of every sin; to see them as totally depraved. But that is the Truth and the reality of what Scripture teaches. They are conceived in, an born in iniquity. Their hearts are full of wickedness and evil. And apart from the grace of God, they will fulfill every desire of their flesh leading them to utter destruction.
But what do we do as parents? Is there a guarantee that if I "train" my child up in the admonition and fear of the Lord that he or she will be saved? Unfortunately no, that is not a promise. BUT it is a principle. We serve a GOOD and faithful God who blesses His children far beyond comprehension. He blesses obedience. We can be certain that if we are obedient to His commands that are laid out for us as parents, that we can trust that in His sovereign plan everything will work out for our good and His glory. And prayerfully that will include the salvation of our children. His Word is clear...
THE GOAL OF PARENTING IS A CHILD'S SALVATION, THAT GOD WOULD CHANGE THEIR HEART!
Children MUST be made to obey because depravity exists. Proverbs 29:15 says, "The rod and reproof give wisdom, and the child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother". "Discipline, correction, the rod is biblical. The key is the children must be made to obey by suffering painful consequences when they don't. They must be made to honor and respect their parents so that they're punished not only for disobedience but for disrespect, and dishonor. Consequences for disobedience." (John MacArthur) We do this because we are seeking to bring our kids to a place of righteousness. We are desiring to guide their hearts to Christ. Children must have an enforced conformity to God and His Truth in their heart and life. You are to break their self-will, to show them the heinousness of their sin, and to teach them that that sin is an offense towards God. And teach them that only our loving God is the one who can change their heart. Every moment is a teachable moment, life is a classroom of grace towards Jesus.
I was recently listening to a sermon by John MacArthur (The Fulfilled Family: God's Pattern for Parents Part 1 and 2) and he gave some very practical and wise things to do found in the Word of God in Deuteronomy 6, a chapter on family instruction.
Teach Your Child...
1. To Recognize God and His Sovereignty (Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.")
2. Obedience to God and His Word (Deuteronomy 6:6 "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. ")
3. To Follow Your Example of Christ (Deuteronomy 6:7 "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.")
4. By Continually, Constantly Reminding them of God, His Sovereignty, His Love, and to Love Him, to Fear Him, and to Follow your Example (Deuteronomy 6:8-9 "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." )
5. Warn them of the World (Deuteronomy 6:10-12 "And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—with great and good cities that you did not build, and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant—and when you eat and are full, then take care lest you forget theLord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.")
Be faithful to these things, and stay on your knees knowing God is faithful.
It is hard to look at your precious little baby and remember that within them lies the root of every sin; to see them as totally depraved. But that is the Truth and the reality of what Scripture teaches. They are conceived in, an born in iniquity. Their hearts are full of wickedness and evil. And apart from the grace of God, they will fulfill every desire of their flesh leading them to utter destruction.
But what do we do as parents? Is there a guarantee that if I "train" my child up in the admonition and fear of the Lord that he or she will be saved? Unfortunately no, that is not a promise. BUT it is a principle. We serve a GOOD and faithful God who blesses His children far beyond comprehension. He blesses obedience. We can be certain that if we are obedient to His commands that are laid out for us as parents, that we can trust that in His sovereign plan everything will work out for our good and His glory. And prayerfully that will include the salvation of our children. His Word is clear...
THE GOAL OF PARENTING IS A CHILD'S SALVATION, THAT GOD WOULD CHANGE THEIR HEART!
Children MUST be made to obey because depravity exists. Proverbs 29:15 says, "The rod and reproof give wisdom, and the child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother". "Discipline, correction, the rod is biblical. The key is the children must be made to obey by suffering painful consequences when they don't. They must be made to honor and respect their parents so that they're punished not only for disobedience but for disrespect, and dishonor. Consequences for disobedience." (John MacArthur) We do this because we are seeking to bring our kids to a place of righteousness. We are desiring to guide their hearts to Christ. Children must have an enforced conformity to God and His Truth in their heart and life. You are to break their self-will, to show them the heinousness of their sin, and to teach them that that sin is an offense towards God. And teach them that only our loving God is the one who can change their heart. Every moment is a teachable moment, life is a classroom of grace towards Jesus.
I was recently listening to a sermon by John MacArthur (The Fulfilled Family: God's Pattern for Parents Part 1 and 2) and he gave some very practical and wise things to do found in the Word of God in Deuteronomy 6, a chapter on family instruction.
Teach Your Child...
1. To Recognize God and His Sovereignty (Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.")
2. Obedience to God and His Word (Deuteronomy 6:6 "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. ")
3. To Follow Your Example of Christ (Deuteronomy 6:7 "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.")
4. By Continually, Constantly Reminding them of God, His Sovereignty, His Love, and to Love Him, to Fear Him, and to Follow your Example (Deuteronomy 6:8-9 "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." )
5. Warn them of the World (Deuteronomy 6:10-12 "And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—with great and good cities that you did not build, and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant—and when you eat and are full, then take care lest you forget theLord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.")
Be faithful to these things, and stay on your knees knowing God is faithful.
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