"ThusdayReflection"
25th January 2024
'Danielle Bernock asks'
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"Does the Bible Say How to Train Up Your Child?"
Training up a child is to teach, train, direct, start, and to give instruction to them.
These are to be done: In the way he should go, how they should live, about his way, differentiating right from wrong, onto the right path, and the way appropriate for him.
"Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it" (Proverbs 22:6).
Being a parent is no small task.
Doing it well is even more difficult. How is a parent supposed to know how to be a parent?
Does the Bible offer help on how to go about it?
Proverbs 22:6 is commonly quoted.
How a parent habitually talks to their child about the child's life and teaches them how to speak, is what the child will believe and follow.
Every parent trains up their child in some way because this works both in the positive and the negative.
Verbally abusing a child will produce negative results.
The Bible gives more instruction on how it's done in the positive.
The Bible talks a lot about the mouth. About what to say, where it comes from, the importance of what we say, etc.
In Deuteronomy 6:7, God is instructing the children of Israel how to raise their families.
See how the mouth (or speech) is implemented.
Impress them on your children.
Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up (NIV).
One might see a formula in this scripture thinking that simply talking a lot about God and the commandments is what is meant.
However, there are countless stories of children raised in Christian homes where the commands of God were talked about diligently, yet they walked away from God.
Talking about God to our children is only one piece of the puzzle.
The most important piece to any puzzle in our lives is what the Bible calls "a more excellent way."
This "more excellent way" is the way of love.
It is more excellent because it embodies God, who is love.
For applying this piece to parenting, let's look at Ephesians 6:4.
And you, fathers, do not irritate your children, but bring them up tenderly with true Christian training and advice.
The words I've emphasized are from the translation of the words 'bring up' meaning bring up to maturity, nourish, nurture.
Love nourishes, nurtures, and devotes itself for the good of others.
Jesus came to earth and demonstrated how devoted true love is.
Both in showing us the love of the Father for us, and His love for us as well.
God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.
I have loved you the same way the Father has loved me. So live in my love.
Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God
Walking in love is the highest calling we can walk in.
We can fall down in the words we speak, and the actions we demonstrate, but true love will prevail above them.
This is for two reasons.
One is 1 Peter 4:8: Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins (NIV).
And the second is love never fails.
This is an edited version.
The full article and Bible references are avaiable on request
Christianity.com
is brought to you by a group of writers and editors with a passion for giving people access to what is enduringly Christian.
We believe that God's truth should be available to everyone.
Thus, a vision of accessible orthodoxy inspires and drives us to help people around the world know God and better understand the Christian faith.
DANIELLE BERNOCK
CROSSWALK.COM CONTRIBUTING WRITER
is an international, award-winning author, coach, and speaker who helps people embrace their value and heal their souls through the power of the love of God.
A long-time follower of Christ, Danielle lives with her husband in Michigan near her adult children and grandchildren.
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