Raising Wise Children
Everyone wants to be smart and wise in the way they live, and Scripture tells us that true wisdom comes through two ways.
First, it comes by listening to and following God.
And second, wisdom comes from applying the truths in Scripture to our everyday life.
The book of Proverbs is full of wise sayings and instructions for living. We can turn to Proverbs to learn more about God and how we can live in wisdom. However, the truths that we read in Proverbs are not promises. That’s not how wisdom works. Instead, a proverb is a principle for living that guides us towards what is right and good.
Proverbs 22 is full of principles that are worth memorizing. The sixth verse teaches us about raising children.
It’s true that the most formative years of a person’s life are in their youth. What we learn when we're growing up sticks with us—so we should pay great attention to how we teach and raise our kids at a young age.
This verse is not a promise that our children will never mess up or go astray. Even though this proverb is not a promise, the principle still holds true. If the foundation of our children’s lives is built on Jesus, they will be more likely to continue to follow Him later on in life.
For those who are raising children, this verse reminds us of the importance of discipleship in our kids' lives. We should take great care with intentionally raising our kids. And for those without kids in their home, there is a great opportunity to assist in the discipleship of children within the church or within the lives of family and friends.
Take some time to consider how you can help in shaping the next generation to love Jesus and live in wisdom.
Remembering God
Have you ever been awestruck by a sunset? Or left speechless by the meticulous details of the living cell, the human eye, the mysterious ocean, or the vast universe? How often do you think about what God has made, or the ways that He has worked?
The psalmist Asaph, wrote:
“I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy, What god is great like our God?"
Psalm 77:12-13 ESV
One of the best things we can do is remember God—how He gives good gifts, writes the best stories, and is constantly making beauty from ashes. He created us, pursued us, and even gave His own life for us.
But remembering God takes intentionality.
Remembering God doesn't happen on accident, which is why we have to intentionally commit to reflecting on Him each day. Purposefully remembering God’s bigness helps us recognize our smallness. Deliberately recalling His goodness helps us understand our deep need for Him.
Pondering God’s work and meditating on ...
“And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Beth-el. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth-el. And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho. And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. And Elijah said unto him, ...
The Mission of God
All of our lives are spent on something. Most people spend their days focused on growing a family, building their career, or amassing possessions.
While none of those things are necessarily wrong, they can become distractions from our ultimate goal in life.
In the book of Acts, we see Paul’s transformation in Christ. As a result of meeting Jesus and being changed by His grace, Paul spends the rest of his life preaching the good news of Jesus.
For Paul, God’s grace and salvation are so great that nothing on this earth is as important as God’s work.
Paul says that nothing in His life matters as much as telling others about God’s grace. His goal in life was to finish his own race well by faithfully accomplishing as much of the mission of God as possible:
"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace."
Acts 20:24 NIV
The mission ...