Have you ever wondered if God has a formula for parenting? Some of us may have thought so and done our best to raise our children “in the discipline and admonition of the Lord,” only to have them wander from the faith or fail to make a genuine commitment to the Lord. This often leaves us confused, discouraged, and wondering if there is something we missed. There’s an important principle to remember in today’s reading from Psalms that may help.
And from our New Testament reading, we’ll see that “Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone”—This truth is central to our faith and must be strongly guarded and taught.
Today’s Readings:
2 Chronicles 11 & 2 Chronicles 12
Psalm 80.14-19
Proverbs 20.19-21
Acts 15.1-21
Is There a Formula for Good Parenting?
Psalm 80.14-19:
A + B = C
In yesterday’s reading, the psalmist was recounting Israel’s history and how God had blessed them. He compared the nation to a fruitful vine and a mighty cedar (Ps. 80.8-11). But sadly, they had repeatedly turned to false gods and were suffering the inevitable consequences. But, as the psalmist continues, we see that they knew where their salvation could be found. In fact, the psalmist was crying out for God’s deliverance.
Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved! (v. 19).
That’s an important principle to remember in regard to our parenting. Many of us have done our best to raise our children “in the discipline and admonition of the Lord,” only to have them wander from the faith or fail to make a genuine commitment to the Lord.
We are often confused and discouraged because we saw parenting as something of a formula. If I do “A + B” (take my children to church, teach them biblical truth, send them to church camp, etc.), then God will give me “C” (believing, obedient children).
We back up our belief with verses like Proverbs 22.6:
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Not a Guarantee
But that verse is not an ironclad guarantee that our children will serve God or that they will never rebel. Remember, God’s children rebel, too, and He’s the perfect parent.
What it means is they will not be able “to depart” from the truth. They won’t be able to escape what they know. They can choose to walk away, but the truth will follow them like their shadow and be there when they come to their senses as the prodigal son did (Lk. 15.11-31) and as the Israelites did on many occasions.
How we parent is important. And while none of us will do it perfectly, we are to be faithful to lovingly teach, disciple, exhort and discipline our children according to God’s Word and in reliance on His grace. But we must remember that there are several factors at work in their lives: our parenting, their will, the world, and the Holy Spirit’s work.
Parenting is not a formula. Instead, we’re to pray and trust that as we faithfully do our part, and even when we fail, God is at work. He wants our children’s hearts not just their outward obedience. And sometimes that work is slow, even painful, just as it was in many of our lives.
Today’s Other Readings:
2 Chronicles 11 & 12:
Direct Your Heart
Solomon’s son Rehoboam is now king and the kingdom has been divided because of Solomon’s idolatry and Rehoboam’s foolishness.
Verse 12.14 says about Rehoboam, “… he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord.” The NASB says, “he did not set his heart to seek the Lord.” Other translations of the word translated “prepare” include “to direct” or ” “to stand upright” meaning at attention.
Rehoboam was a mediocre king because he had a mediocre relationship with God. He never completely forsook God, he just never sought Him wholeheartedly. He didn’t pray as his father did (at the beginning of his reign) for the wisdom he needed to rule the kingdom. And he didn’t search the Scriptures to know the heart of God and get His wisdom. Matthew Henry in his commentary on the Bible says, “… he engaged not, his heart to seek the Lord …”
Preparing Our Hearts
How can we prepare our hearts to seek the Lord so we don’t end up with a mediocre relationship with God? Or worse end up drifting away from God?
Our hearts, as the old hymn “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” says, are prone to wander, we don’t automatically seek the Lord. We must purpose to do so. We first need to ask God for His help, then we need to read and study “at attention” and, finally, we need to set our minds, be determined, to obey those things He shows us.
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
“Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” by Robert Robinson in 1757:
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount, I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,
Till released from flesh and sin,
Yet from what I do inherit,
Here Thy praises I’ll begin;
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;
How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell,
Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me
I cannot proclaim it well.O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.O that day when freed from sinning,
I shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace;
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away;
Send thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day.
Proverbs 20.19-21:
Flattering Talebearers
He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips (v. 19).
Be careful who your friends are. The friend who flatters you, but gossips about others is probably doing the same thing when you’re not around. Love them; pray for them. Don’t be guilty of the same by gossiping about them, but be wise.
Acts 15.1-21:
Salvation by Grace
The early apostles and elders were determined to clarify the truth of “salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.” It is a truth that is central to our faith and must be strongly guarded and taught. Even today, we must beware of those who add works to salvation. While we are to do good works, they should flow out of a changed heart (Eph. 2.8-10). Good works have no power to save and can actually keep a person from seeing their need for a Savior.
There is none righteous, no, not one (Rom. 3.10).
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3.23).
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 6.23).
Salvation is a gift of grace.
Through Faith Alone
But salvation is not automatic. It is for those who believe, those who choose to acknowledge they are sinners in need of a Savior, put their faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross, and accept His forgiveness.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast (Eph. 2.8-9).
In Christ Alone
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4.12).
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (Jn. 14.6).
It’s not popular or politically correct, but Jesus Christ is the Way, the Only Way!
Coming Up:
In the coming days, we’ll talk about spiritual gifts, giving and our hearts, how pride shows up in our lives in unexpected ways, the heartbreaking sin of abortion, ask the question, “Could we like the early church turn the world upside down?” and discuss the statement, “What you do in moderation, your children will often do to excess.”
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Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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