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Thoughts in Worship 11.15.2015
Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Sunday, November 15, 2015
Today’s Scripture Promise:
“Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6, AMP).
Today’s Observation:
The Amplified Bible translates today’s promise extremely well. While in many places Bible unequivocally enjoins upon parents to direct children’s minds to their Creator so they will learn to worship Him, today’s promise does not overrule the will of children, or guarantee their salvation if we train them according to the Word. I know this is difficult for many to believe since we have taught it this way for years. Lucifer was heaven’s brightest son. The Bible says that he was the delight of God, perfect in all his ways, and every precious stone was his covering…until iniquity was found in him. Eventually God’s son, whom He created for His glory rebelled and refused to repent, and destruction will be his lot. In light of this fact, and many other Bible examples that fly in the face of what we have been taught, let’s unpack what the promise is actually saying.
It is our duty as parents and caregivers to seek God’s guidance and discover each child’s unique calling and gifts (their bent). If we do this and become keenly aware of them while we direct, educate, and develop our children, we set them up for the happiest, most effective lifework possible. If your child, like mine, is a chatty, outgoing individual, you would miss out on this promise by trying to keep them from talking so much and training them to work in solitude. Whereas people like me thrive in solitude to do diligent work with massive impact. I work best outside groups (although I’m adaptable). I work from a 9-foot by 5-foot sound deadened recording/writing studio for hours on end with no problems. I love it. I have not had a visible coworker for years. Outgoing individuals like my son would be unhappy and possibly even rebellious or crazy locked away like this. In this example, it is critical that my wife and I ask the Lord how to leverage our son’s need to talk, talk, talk, and be around people for His glory. If my parents attempted to break me and force me to be outgoing, I would most definitely have “departed from it.” It’s not my bent. It is not the “way I should go.”
Regardless of what I said in the lead paragraph, it is our duty and privilege to give our children the best possible training in the ways of God, so they hopefully will choose salvation. God is so good to us and we need to model our gratitude to God before them, so they will see what a blessing it is to serve Him. If these dear ones accept this guidance and modeling, and learn to love God, they will be saved. The choice is theirs. We must give them the best possible chance to make the right choices.
Today’s Marching Orders:
Ask the Lord to show you the unique gifts and abilities in the children given to your care. Ask Him to help you develop those blessings, so they will be the happiest, most fulfilled, and effective people they can be as they continue to serve others.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)
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Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Sunday, November 15, 2015
Today’s Scripture Promise:
“Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6, AMP).
Today’s Observation:
The Amplified Bible translates today’s promise extremely well. While in many places Bible unequivocally enjoins upon parents to direct children’s minds to their Creator so they will learn to worship Him, today’s promise does not overrule the will of children, or guarantee their salvation if we train them according to the Word. I know this is difficult for many to believe since we have taught it this way for years. Lucifer was heaven’s brightest son. The Bible says that he was the delight of God, perfect in all his ways, and every precious stone was his covering…until iniquity was found in him. Eventually God’s son, whom He created for His glory rebelled and refused to repent, and destruction will be his lot. In light of this fact, and many other Bible examples that fly in the face of what we have been taught, let’s unpack what the promise is actually saying.
It is our duty as parents and caregivers to seek God’s guidance and discover each child’s unique calling and gifts (their bent). If we do this and become keenly aware of them while we direct, educate, and develop our children, we set them up for the happiest, most effective lifework possible. If your child, like mine, is a chatty, outgoing individual, you would miss out on this promise by trying to keep them from talking so much and training them to work in solitude. Whereas people like me thrive in solitude to do diligent work with massive impact. I work best outside groups (although I’m adaptable). I work from a 9-foot by 5-foot sound deadened recording/writing studio for hours on end with no problems. I love it. I have not had a visible coworker for years. Outgoing individuals like my son would be unhappy and possibly even rebellious or crazy locked away like this. In this example, it is critical that my wife and I ask the Lord how to leverage our son’s need to talk, talk, talk, and be around people for His glory. If my parents attempted to break me and force me to be outgoing, I would most definitely have “departed from it.” It’s not my bent. It is not the “way I should go.”
Regardless of what I said in the lead paragraph, it is our duty and privilege to give our children the best possible training in the ways of God, so they hopefully will choose salvation. God is so good to us and we need to model our gratitude to God before them, so they will see what a blessing it is to serve Him. If these dear ones accept this guidance and modeling, and learn to love God, they will be saved. The choice is theirs. We must give them the best possible chance to make the right choices.
Today’s Marching Orders:
Ask the Lord to show you the unique gifts and abilities in the children given to your care. Ask Him to help you develop those blessings, so they will be the happiest, most fulfilled, and effective people they can be as they continue to serve others.—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)