Love Part 3: September 16, 2009

TODAYS WORD FOR WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2009

DAY THREE OF A FIVE DAY SERIES
LOVE

Today we will share some thoughts with you about love between parents and children. We have been married for 52 years and have 6 married children and 21 grandchildren. Possibly some of our experiences will be of help to you.

GODS WORD

“Children obey your parents --- honor your father and mother --- fathers do not provoke your children.” Excerpts from Ephesians 6:1-4.

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of LOVE, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us.” Ephesians 5:1-2.

WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE

We are aware that it is much more difficult to raise a family today then when we raised our family. We know of numerous parents and children that have followed the principles we are outlining in this devotional and today they have Christ honoring Christian families. So we know it can be done and it is not just theory. BUT PLEASE REMEMBER: To raise a family today takes time, dedication, firmness and lots of love.

Paul reminds us in Ephesians chapter I, that we are dearly loved children of God and that we are to live a life of LOVE just as Christ loved us. As parents we are to love our children with sacrificial love just as He loved us and sacrificed himself for us.

Even though for most families today, parenting has become a lost art, the Bible gives us guidelines on parent/children relationships that must be taken seriously and acted upon. There are guidelines for parents and for children.

The following scriptures are clear as to the responsibilities of parents.

• TRAIN: “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
• CORRECT: “Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes he will give delight to your soul.” Proverbs 29:17.
• DISCIPLINE: “The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.” Proverbs 29:15
• INSTRUCT: “My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother.” Proverbs 1:8.
• WARN: “My son if sinners entice you, do not consent.” Proverbs 1:10.
• ADVISE: “My son, do not walk in the way of them, keep your foot from the path; for their feet run to evil and they make haste to shed blood.” Proverbs 1:15-16.
• DO NOT PROVOKE: “And you fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4.

Look carefully at what these scriptures say. They have the specifics --- train, correct, discipline, instruct, warn, advise and do not provoke --- to help you raise your family. This is not an easy assignment because of the pressures of today’s society. You will not be aided by your child’s peers, their school or school teachers and probably not much in your church. It is a parent’s responsibility and you must take it seriously daily from your child’s very early age.

Now the children also have their responsibilities and parents must teach these to them as well:

• OBEY: “Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” Ephesians 6:1.
• HONOR: “Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise; that it may be well with you and you may live long on this earth.” Ephesians 6:2-3.
• LOVE YOUR PEERS: “Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathon (Paul’s son) was knit to the soul of David (his peer and cousin). And Jonathon and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.” I Samuel 18:1-3.

A child needs to be taught that he has boundaries. These boundaries are compared by some as to be “Gates” and “Walls.” Ancient cities had them to protect them from the enemy and parents must set boundaries to protect their child from today’s enemies. Parents must be firm and consistent in enforcing the set boundaries. Raising your voice does not help, in fact it hinders the response needed. Parents can not be afraid to say “NO.” When you say “NO” it is advisable to give a reasonable explanation. However children must be taught that when a parent says “NO,” it means “NO.”

TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER

Give us the wisdom, patience and love needed today to be a God fearing parent dedicated to use the guidelines out lined in Your word. Help us to love our children as our Heavenly Father loves us with a sacrificial love. Help us to teach our children to respect us as as we respect them and to be obedient to us and to Thee. Give our children compliant hearts. Bring our children to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.