Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. -Ecclesiastes 9:10
Have you ever had the Lord teach you the same truth time and time again but each time you learn through a different process? It seems each time the Lord re-teaches me a truth my understanding is more comprehensive and the practicality of the truth becomes more obvious. Since the passing of Tiffany's grandpa, the Lord has been getting my attention as a parent. The beginning of this month my family had the privilege of going back east to visit my brothers and parents for a late Christmas celebration. While we were there I was able to take a course at Liberty titled, Family Discipleship. As you can imagine this course was very practical in both my home life and ministry. I was, again, challenged to be the father and husband God has called me to be. Let me assure you this is not a call we should take lightly! God has called me to disciple my children and train them in the fear and admonition of the Him. This is not a passive call but requires me to be intentional in everything I do. As parents we have been called to be the primary spiritual influence in our children's life! What a privilege! There should be an urgency in the believer's approach to parenting. My once infant daughter is now 5 1/2 (I include the half because she will graciously correct me if "accidentally" leave this off her age). Luke just celebrated his fourth birthday. This means I will have, at least (the ages of our children in Ethiopia is unknown until we receive a match), two school age children in under a year!
Over the past few months as Tiffany and I have been awaiting the match of our two children in Ethiopia (which we are still awaiting), I have constantly been reminded of the opportunity I have right now. I do not have the luxury to wait to disciple my children. If I wait, I better be sure that someone or something else is influencing them. Passive discipleship is unacceptable and ultimately ineffective. My children are growing up and there are too many negative influences in the world for me to passively "hope" they figure it out. Ecclesiastes, along with many other passages in Scripture, calls the reader to do their very best at whatever they put our hand to. This exhortation is not limited to parenting, but surely it does not exclude it. God has graciously given me two children and I must do my very best in training them to know and grow in Him. I do not need to wait until all four children are in my home to disciple them, but I am called to disciple them now. In fact, I believe if I do not intentionally disciple my two children who are currently in my home, it will be far more difficult to disciple all four children when that time comes. I am committed to doing my very best for the Lord outside the home, this should be no different than my influence inside the home. What a privilege to be able to influence the next generation! What an even greater privilege to influence my children who are a part of the next generation! May the Lord graciously give Tiffany and I conviction and wisdom as we seek to fulfill our responsibility in training our children to know and grow in Him.
Have you ever had the Lord teach you the same truth time and time again but each time you learn through a different process? It seems each time the Lord re-teaches me a truth my understanding is more comprehensive and the practicality of the truth becomes more obvious. Since the passing of Tiffany's grandpa, the Lord has been getting my attention as a parent. The beginning of this month my family had the privilege of going back east to visit my brothers and parents for a late Christmas celebration. While we were there I was able to take a course at Liberty titled, Family Discipleship. As you can imagine this course was very practical in both my home life and ministry. I was, again, challenged to be the father and husband God has called me to be. Let me assure you this is not a call we should take lightly! God has called me to disciple my children and train them in the fear and admonition of the Him. This is not a passive call but requires me to be intentional in everything I do. As parents we have been called to be the primary spiritual influence in our children's life! What a privilege! There should be an urgency in the believer's approach to parenting. My once infant daughter is now 5 1/2 (I include the half because she will graciously correct me if "accidentally" leave this off her age). Luke just celebrated his fourth birthday. This means I will have, at least (the ages of our children in Ethiopia is unknown until we receive a match), two school age children in under a year!
Over the past few months as Tiffany and I have been awaiting the match of our two children in Ethiopia (which we are still awaiting), I have constantly been reminded of the opportunity I have right now. I do not have the luxury to wait to disciple my children. If I wait, I better be sure that someone or something else is influencing them. Passive discipleship is unacceptable and ultimately ineffective. My children are growing up and there are too many negative influences in the world for me to passively "hope" they figure it out. Ecclesiastes, along with many other passages in Scripture, calls the reader to do their very best at whatever they put our hand to. This exhortation is not limited to parenting, but surely it does not exclude it. God has graciously given me two children and I must do my very best in training them to know and grow in Him. I do not need to wait until all four children are in my home to disciple them, but I am called to disciple them now. In fact, I believe if I do not intentionally disciple my two children who are currently in my home, it will be far more difficult to disciple all four children when that time comes. I am committed to doing my very best for the Lord outside the home, this should be no different than my influence inside the home. What a privilege to be able to influence the next generation! What an even greater privilege to influence my children who are a part of the next generation! May the Lord graciously give Tiffany and I conviction and wisdom as we seek to fulfill our responsibility in training our children to know and grow in Him.
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