Raising Godly Children
Scripture: Luke 2:41, 52
"41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. 42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual...52 Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people."
Observations:
This story is the only account of Jesus as a child. From the little we know about his childhood, he was raised by two typical Jews named Mary and Joseph, who made it a point as a family to value a relationship with God. This verse tells us that every year they traveled from Nazareth to Jerusalem to participate in the Passover festival as a family. Why? Because God commanded had commanded them to (Exodus 23:14-17). Even though only adult Jewish males were required to attend, many Jewish families, like this one, took time as a family to focus on the things of God as part of their lifestyle. Was that really necessary? I mean, Jesus was already divine even as a young kid. Yet because His parents were willing to set aside the time, money, and energy, and even take time off of work, to invest in His spiritual development, it shaped Him into the "man" He would become later on in life. Vs. 52 highlights Jesus' development physically, socially, and spiritually. I highly doubt that it was any accident that God chose Mary & Joseph to be the parents of Jesus. In fact, it was all an essential part of His plan to change the world. What we do know is that Jesus didn't become the man He was overnight; much of His life was an intentional process developed over many years by two ordinary, but godly parents.
Application:
Sometimes we forget the significant task God has given us as parents in the spiritual development of our children, especially in the culture we live in. The very least we can do is make it a point to invest in our childrens' relationship with God, even while they're young by following the example of Mary & Joseph by giving of our time, money, energy, and whatever else is necessary in order to teach them to know God. The good news is that it doesn't take a super spiritual pedigree or vast amounts of money to do it right. Jesus' parents had very little and were as ordinary as you and I, but what they did have was a personal relationship with God and a desire to share that with their son. If we truly desire to be godly parents, there's no better time to start than now and no better audience than our children. We can teach what we know, but we will always reproduce who we are. As parents let's make it a point that no matter what it costs us, we will be the kind of example that will lead our children to know and serve God.
Prayer:
Father, help us to be lead our families by example and to do our very best to make the most of the opportunity you have given us as parents to invest spiritual things in our children. May we never neglect our responsibility to "raise our children in the way they should go" (Proverbs 22:6). Amen.
Daily Bible Reading Plan
"41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. 42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual...52 Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people."
Observations:
This story is the only account of Jesus as a child. From the little we know about his childhood, he was raised by two typical Jews named Mary and Joseph, who made it a point as a family to value a relationship with God. This verse tells us that every year they traveled from Nazareth to Jerusalem to participate in the Passover festival as a family. Why? Because God commanded had commanded them to (Exodus 23:14-17). Even though only adult Jewish males were required to attend, many Jewish families, like this one, took time as a family to focus on the things of God as part of their lifestyle. Was that really necessary? I mean, Jesus was already divine even as a young kid. Yet because His parents were willing to set aside the time, money, and energy, and even take time off of work, to invest in His spiritual development, it shaped Him into the "man" He would become later on in life. Vs. 52 highlights Jesus' development physically, socially, and spiritually. I highly doubt that it was any accident that God chose Mary & Joseph to be the parents of Jesus. In fact, it was all an essential part of His plan to change the world. What we do know is that Jesus didn't become the man He was overnight; much of His life was an intentional process developed over many years by two ordinary, but godly parents.
Application:
Sometimes we forget the significant task God has given us as parents in the spiritual development of our children, especially in the culture we live in. The very least we can do is make it a point to invest in our childrens' relationship with God, even while they're young by following the example of Mary & Joseph by giving of our time, money, energy, and whatever else is necessary in order to teach them to know God. The good news is that it doesn't take a super spiritual pedigree or vast amounts of money to do it right. Jesus' parents had very little and were as ordinary as you and I, but what they did have was a personal relationship with God and a desire to share that with their son. If we truly desire to be godly parents, there's no better time to start than now and no better audience than our children. We can teach what we know, but we will always reproduce who we are. As parents let's make it a point that no matter what it costs us, we will be the kind of example that will lead our children to know and serve God.
Prayer:
Father, help us to be lead our families by example and to do our very best to make the most of the opportunity you have given us as parents to invest spiritual things in our children. May we never neglect our responsibility to "raise our children in the way they should go" (Proverbs 22:6). Amen.
Daily Bible Reading Plan
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