06/03/08

Train your children

Proverbs 22:6 - Train children in the right way, and when old they will not stray.

The family as an environment for rearing children has been badly damaged. It was more common in the past for the family to be united, full of love and respect for each other, focused on rearing children in the Christian faith, worshipping, serving and eating together. Now there is a widespread assumption that if a child is left alone, he will turn out okay - and if not it is the fault of the school, the church, kids down the block or the government. Our technology has allowed absentee parents to turn their kids over to surrogate parenting - video games, ipods, chat-rooms, pornography, and the like. Our kids are largely molded by movie stars, rock stars, drug users, fashion models, and TV at its worst.

Is it serious? Are we headed for a world we will not enjoy? Is there really coming a day when God will judge the world in righteousness? I don't know about you, but I'm worried about our direction. It is true that sin and rebellion against God have been around since the beginning of time- but are we reaching a new level - maybe a crisis? And are we so anesthetized toward God and morality that we aren't aware of the direction things are going? Are we really surprised that many are turning out to be adults with no faith or morality, passive couch potatoes, focused on the trivial, sensual, easy things that pamper their egos and shield them from responsibility? I'm not a pessimist, but as a realist I'm very concerned.


[ Prayer Starter ]

Father, You alone know the direction and extent of degeneration we now face. Only by faith in You and living by your Word will lives be meaningful and truth maintained on this earth. Father, wake up our people and intervene in our lives. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]

Genesis 18:18-19
18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)