We currently live in a world where children, teenagers and young people are constantly being tempted by the enemy of our souls. The enemy has been trying in every way, to make our children, through various forms of influences, taste and enjoy the “pleasures” of sin. Our children and young people are being bombarded by a world of influencers who are trying to destroy ethical and moral values.
Creation is a “difficult” task, but one that is necessary.
Raising and educating a child these days is not an easy task, but through the word of God, we can take powerful instructions that will help us in the process of raising our children, making them aware that every correction is part of our lives. As an anchor we opened this study by talking about Proverbs 22:6.
Proverbs 22:6 – Instruct a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it.
The first point to stand out. There is a need to instruct our children, from an early age, because the knowledge when applied in the initial (infant) phase, the child will take this learning with him, even after becoming an adult. Within this verse we can understand that parents have a responsibility and an obligation to commit to teaching and disciplining their children so that they will please God.
The second point to highlight here. As parents, we must dedicate ourselves to teaching our children the way to draw close to God.
To instruct means to dedicate in Hebrew.
We must teach our children to read the word of God, develop Bible teaching at home, because the greatest purpose is increasingly to draw our children to God. This communion this closeness of our children to God will be what will separate him from the evil influences of this world, that is, when we teach our children to live in direct contact with God, they are shielded from the evil influences.
We shouldn’t just pick up our kids and take the church, or just say Jesus is good. We must teach our children to seek communion with God, to feel the presence of God within them, since childhood we must make him understand that God loves him, and that it is necessary for him to come to have experiences with God.
We remember Samuel, when he was still a child and did not understand what God wanted for his life, because he still needed to be taught.
1 Samuel 3:4-10 – The Lord called: Samuel! Samuel! He replied: Here I am. And running to Eli, he said to him, Here am I, for you called me. But he said: I did not call you; go back to bed. And he went and lay down. The Lord called again: Samuel! And Samuel arose, went to Eli, and said, Here am I, for you called me. But he said: I did not call you, my son; go back to bed. Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. So the Lord called Samuel again a third time. And he, getting up, went to Eli and said: Here I am, because you called me…
In the above verses, we can extract the importance of teaching the child the way to draw close to God. Samuel still did not understand, because the word of the Lord had not been revealed to him yet, but the bible will show that Eli, being older and understanding, teaches Samuel, how to behave in that moment, because God himself was talking to Samuel .
1 Samuel 3:4-10 – Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli said to Samuel, Go, lie down, and it shall come to pass, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Then the Lord came, stopped and called as at other times: Samuel! Samuel! To which Samuel answered, Speak, for thy servant heareth.
Samuel can only understand that God was talking to him from the moment he was taught, that is, our children will only draw near to God, from the moment we teach them the way.
Third point: When and how should the correction take place?
Proverbs teaches us that the father who truly loves his child corrects him from an early age. The word of God brings an ordinance to parents, so that they come to correct with the “rod” even from an early age, when they are still in the childhood period. When small, we use the “stick” of correction and when maturity is reached we talk, because the opposite will bring serious consequences.
Proverbs 13:24 – He who withholds the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him early.
Physical correction should be applied in cases of willful disobedience or when the child challenges the authority of their parents.
Proverbs 22:15 – Foolishness is bound up with a child’s heart; but the rod of correction will drive her away from him.
When correction is properly applied by parents, it has essential characteristics such as wisdom, love and balance. Leading the child to understand that misbehavior results in unpleasant consequences and even punishment.
Proverbs 29:15 – A rod and a reproof give wisdom; but the child left to himself shames his mother.
The verse above draws attention, as correction teaches the correct path for children. We can understand that all correction and discipline is necessary, as it will prevent our children from taking wrong attitudes, following wrong advice, walking in crooked paths in the future, paths that will lead to ruin and ultimately many to death, so correct today , correct while there is time, correct now.
Fourth point, there is promise for those who correct today.
Every child who is not corrected and not disciplined will certainly later shame his parents. At times leading to disastrous consequences for the family, including for himself. Failure to correct will lead to consequences that will harm our children.
Observe the times, because there are times when we can use simple correction words, but there will be other times when it will be necessary to use correction words accompanied by the correction “stick”, which in this case is physical punishment.
When applying the correction rod, it is extremely necessary that there is an explanation, so that the child understands clearly, the reason for the punishment and what we really want from him.
Proverbs 29:17 – Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yea, it will delight your heart.
In the above verse we see that a creation that is corrected will bring rest to its parents in the future, it will be someone of good in the future, when it grows up it will certainly bring joy to the home and will bring honor to its parents. In Hebrews God will teach us that even we are corrected by Him.
Hebrews 12:6 – for the Lord corrects the one who loves, and scourges everyone who receives as a son.
Hebrews 12:11 – Indeed, no correction seems at the time to be a cause for joy, but for sorrow; but afterward it bears a peaceful fruit of righteousness in those who have been exercised by it.
The above verses bring us glorious insights into two points of correction.
The first point taken from the verses. We are corrected because God our father loves us, therefore, we as good parents must correct our children because we also love them.
The second point taken from the verses. It is that every correction will produce sadness the moment it is applied, but the same correction that produces sadness, brings good fruit that is life.
It is worth highlighting as an important point for the correction of children, the fulfillment of what we said.
Example: If the child pulled the tablecloth, and the parent just told her, if she did it again, she would be corrected. Correction should indeed be applied the next time as the parent had said, because if there is a lack of correction, the child understands that there was not and that there probably will not be correction.
We want our children to come away from sin and evil, but for that we must come to teach them to keep the commandments of God.
Proverbs 2:1 – My son, if you accept my words and treasure my commandments with you,
God will teach us that only by keeping God’s word and our minds and hearts will we learn to live wisely and justly in our relationship to with God. It will only be possible for our children to overcome sin if they have the commandments of God kept inside their hearts and let the word of Christ dwell within them, as the apostle Paul said.
Galatians 2:20 – I am already crucified with Christ; and I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; and the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
It is necessary to teach our children to keep the commandments of the Lord, because these commandments are what will lead them away from the midst of this sinful world. Proverbs says that every command of the Lord is the lamp and if the lamp, we understand that the instruction that God gives us is what will make us walk in the midst of darkness, because the instruction of God for our lives is light.
Proverbs 6:20-23 – My son, keep the commandment of your father, and forsake not your mother’s instruction; bind them forever to your heart, and hang them about your neck. When you walk, it will guide you; when you lie down, he will keep you; when you wake up, he’ll talk to you. For the commandment is a lamp, and the instruction a light; and the reprimands of discipline are the way of life.
When we are disciplined, we are led to the way that produces life, we can observe the sad reality of today, where a large part of our children, youth and adolescents who do not have adequate discipline , unfortunately they do not live to this day.
Fifth point Bless your child at all times.
The Bible will tell us that children are inheritances from the Lord. In that moment as a reflective act, stop and think how many times have you blessed your child today?
Psalm 127:3 – Behold, children are an inheritance from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Our word has power, to bless and to curse. So always bless your children, prophesy blessings over their lives, so that your children will be blessed by God.
In short, everything we’ve studied so far is extremely important, that parents will be dedicating themselves to raising their children. Never expect society, church and so on. Come and intervene in your children’s education. God requires that we come to have a caring attitude toward our children. As mentioned above, children are God’s heritage. At this very moment, stop and reflect on how we are taking care of the inheritances that God has placed in our hands?
Deliver your children into God’s hands, bless him at all times, prophesy about his life, teach the way to draw close to God, to feel the presence of God, teach the Lord’s commandments, teach to be living what God has prepared for it. Today God still uses children, youth and teenagers. God wants to use your child, but it is necessary that you come to teach him to draw close to God, teaching him to become dependent on God.
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