[Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Train them in the way they should go

By Oke Chinye

Read: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Meditation verse:

“You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up (Deuteronomy 6:7).

Every parent has a God ordained responsibility to raise his or her child in a godly environment in which the knowledge of Christ is evident. Parents should be (in words and deeds), the image of Christ, which the child sees because children learn mostly by observation and association. Parents are the first people they observe as they spend most of their formative years with them. Bring up your children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Implant God’s word in their hearts from a very early age and encourage them to pray, using bible verses.

Teach them biblical principles of relationships such as sacrificial giving, kindness, sharing, mutual respect, acceptance, diligence, forgiveness, and self-control. These are very important values that can serve them for life. Ensure that rules for acceptable behaviours are in place and let each child know the boundaries that cannot be crossed. For instance, let them know that inflicting physical injuries or using vulgar languages on one another is prohibited. Be sure to enforce discipline when such lines are crossed. “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child: The rod of correction will drive it far from him” (Proverbs 22:15).

Raising godly children in the current digital age is a nightmare. Never has raising children been as challenging as it currently is. We are living in an era where all information, including those which are perverse, make their way to the Internet, available for our young ones to see. Movies, videos, songs, and games unashamedly promote violence, sex, pornography, and other satanic activities. Social media friendships through the various online platforms have replaced face-to-face communication, exposing our children to dangers from sexual predators, cyber bullying, and cyber-attacks. Technology is impacting negatively on family relationships, as children would rather spend countless hours on their devices, than with their parents or other family members.

Whilst the benefits of technological advancements cannot be overemphasized, the dangers are equally glaring. You must teach your children how to safely navigate the Internet if they are to escape being ensnared. You need to be a watchman or guardrail on this highway of online information by monitoring and supervising their Internet use. Rules must be put in place and adherence to these rules, strictly monitored. For instance, there should be time limits for the use of devices and certain online platforms should be out of bound for younger children. Parental control apps should be utilized to restrict what your children can access.

Romans 12:2 cautions against conforming to the traditions of this world. It is imperative that your children realize that not every lifestyle advertised on the Internet should be copied. Raising godly children requires wisdom, commitment, sacrifice, and discipline, but it is potentially very rewarding. If you invest in your children, you will reap a fulfilled old age, if you do not, you will reap bitterness and regret in your old age. “A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is the grief of his mother” (Proverbs 10:1). Choose wisely.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Dcns Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

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