Via TJC
John 15:17 “These things I command you, that you love one another.”
Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
What does love look like in the blended families that make up so much of todays’ world? So many families that are formed by divorce. So, brother, if your role is father, step father, Grandfather, Uncle, or mentor to a young person, how do we honor God with how we love the children in our lives? It’s not an easy task.
My pastor says frequently, that “You don’t have to teach children how to sin.” We never have to show them the basics of lying, stealing, cheating, uncontrolled anger fits . . . they pretty much figure all these sinful activities (and oh, so many more), on their own without any coaching on our part. So as a “father figure” how do we extend grace, show patience, exhibit love, and yet still provide the guidance, direction, and discipline we know is so important in “bringing up children in the training and instruction of the Lord”? I believe that starts with recognizing that ALL of us are prodigal children. “We all, like sheep, have gone astray . . .” (Isa. 53:6)
We have four. No blended family, so I don’t know what that looks like. We are “empty-nesters”. So to know how to adjust in the pandemic influenced environment that has changed our homes, is different than the struggles many of you are facing with younger ones. Yet, I know my God and I know He has a perfect plan for each of us in the exact situation we find ourselves. It is His plan! God has called each of us for “such a time (and family circumstances) such as this”.
Daily Battle Order:
The approach on how to be effective with loving the children in our lives, no matter the role we may have, is accomplished by staying close to God’s Word and applying His principles of loving God and loving others, like Jesus does. Seek His help with your children. Run to His Word (the Book of Proverbs is a primer on raising a Godly family). God has filled you with the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus out of His borrowed tomb. Embrace every good-bye and every new beginning as a gift from God to see His amazing faithfulness in our lives. You have a Great Commission to fulfill! Mother Theresa was once asked how to change the world. She responded, “Go home and love your family.”
Join TJC on June 11th and learn what Victory looked like at The First Battle of Manassas, and how the appearance of Victory can change when we lose sight of our mission.
Join us June 11th and learn how knowing the beginning from the end would have helped the armies of the North and the South at The First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run), and how knowing the beginning from the end helps us today to have Victory in our lives.
I love this DBO....Not just raising children in the training and instruction of the Lord but also as out of Proverbs 18:21...The tongue as has the power of life and death. The words (and truths) that we speak into our children will determine their destiny...something that I continually need to remember and work on.