Often when we harbor some sin, we console ourselves by claiming it only affects us. But both when we sin and when we choose to respond as we should, we never do it in isolation. The effect of our behavior on our children and others can be profound and long-lasting. Will we affect them for good or evil? What are we teaching them by our example?

Also, read about the conclusion of the Book of Ecclesiastes and the sweetness of God’s wisdom.

Today’s Readings:

Ecclesiastes 11 & 12
Psalm 103.15-22
Proverbs 24.13-14
1 Corinthians 11.1-16

What Are We Really Teaching Our Children?

Psalm 103.15-22:

Children’s Children

But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children (v. 17).

As I said in the introduction, when we harbor some sin, we sometimes console ourselves by saying we know it’s wrong but claiming it only affects us. But sin in the heart always works itself out in our words and actions. And whether we sin or whether we choose righteous living, we never do it in isolation. Our actions and behaviors do affect others, especially our children. That doesn’t mean that God punishes our children for our sins (Ezek. 18.20), but our actions do have an effect on them—sometimes a profound effect!

Sometimes, children grow up in a home where the family attends church and publicly says all the right things. But at home, their parents fight, give one another the silent treatment, and refuse to solve problems biblically. Too often those children walk away from the faith when they go off to college or leave home. Biblical Christianity was never lived out for them. Instead, they saw hypocrisy.

Children who grow up in a home where drugs or alcohol are abused are often neglected, emotionally and physically. They may pick up the lifestyle they saw lived out or become angry and bitter.

Children whose parents go from relationship to relationship or turn to work or hobbies instead of solving problems with their spouse may never learn to solve problems or resolve conflict in Christ-honoring ways.

Living Righteously

Conversely, when we choose to live righteously, it also affects them. No one knows us like those who live in our own homes. When our children see us living in the fear of the Lord when no one else is watching, it can be more powerful than all the words we use to teach them right from wrong. To fear the Lord is to recognize that He alone is God, to reverence and respect Him as God, and to be more concerned about pleasing Him than either ourselves or other people.

Ultimately, our children are accountable for their own actions (Prov. 20.11; Ezek. 18.20) but when we choose to live hypocritically, we can be a stumbling block to them (Rom. 14.21). And for that, God will hold us accountable (Matt. 18.6).

God’s Grace & the Cross

But I also want to say that no one does this perfectly. We all fall short as parents and in other ways. That’s why Christ died. If He could have simply given us the Bible and we could just go do it, Christ would not have had to suffer and die that horrible death. 

The truth is we all need the gospel every day! We need to go back to the cross when we fail, sometimes miserably, and look up. We need to remember that if we have embraced the gospel, Jesus nailed every sin, yours, mine, and our children’s, to the cross:

¹³ And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, ¹⁴ by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross (Col. 2).

Is that an excuse to go on sinning? No, of course not (Rom. 6.1). When we realize we have blown it, we need to go to God and seek His forgiveness and go to our children or spouse or both and ask for forgiveness. And we need to humbly seek God’s help to go His way going forward.

Children are some of the most forgiving people in the world. Perhaps they haven’t hardened their hearts like many of us. But they need parents who while doing their best are also open and honest about their struggles (in appropriate ways) and who are good repenters.

Today’s Other Readings:

Ecclesiastes 11 & 12:

Life is short. Spend it well.

The book of Ecclesiastes ends with this:

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

We might sum up the book of Ecclesiastes by saying. Life is short. Spend it well. Enjoy the journey and above all, fear God and keep His commandments.

Proverbs 24.13-14:

What Is Sweet to You?

Is God’s wisdom as desirable to you as your favorite dessert? Is it so sweet that you savor it in your heart and mind? Does it make you want to tell others how good it is and share it with them? When was the last time you baked up a piece of God’s wisdom and lovingly offered it to a friend?

1 Corinthians 11.1-16:

The Symbols of Male & Female Roles

2 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved (vv. 2-5).

John MacArthur, in his Daily Bible notes on verses 4-5, says this about a woman covering her head in church, “The apostle is not laying down an absolute law for women to wear veils or coverings in all churches for all time, but is declaring that the symbols of the divinely established male and female roles are to be genuinely honored in every culture.”

Coming Up:

In the coming days, we will talk about the importance of examining our own lives, holiness and what it is, biblical love, and how God intended sex within marriage to be “red hot.”

I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss any of them. You might also like to check out our YouTube channel.

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And if you don’t already have a copy, you might want to purchase a copy of my eBook, 10 Benefits of Keeping a Spiritual Journal. It’s available on Kindle or in paperback (the paperback has 31 days of blank journaling pages with prompts to help you get started).

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)

I sometimes LINKUP with these blogs.