THINK TOGETHER.
What kind of things do you train for?
READ TOGETHER
Proverbs 22:6. Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Many parents have read this proverb as a word from God promising that if they raise their children right, those children will always do right. If you raise your children to be Christians, even if they go astray at times, when they get older they will come back to Jesus. But that’s not exactly what the proverb is saying. So what is it saying?
Solomon is making a very basic observation in this proverb. The words train up mean to dedicate. It’s the same word Solomon used when he dedicated to Temple to God. The next words, in the way he should go, literally says “in his way.” So let’s put it together – “get a child started in his way, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” In other words, the path you let your children go down when they are young is likely the path they will stay on even when they are old.
(For mom and dad – remember the proverbs aren’t promises. This is meant to be an observation and encouragement about something that generally holds true)
Why do you think your mom and dad try so hard to teach you the right path? Why do they send you to good schools, and take you to church, and read devotions like this one with you? It’s not only so that you will be a good boy or girl today. It’s so that you might grow up to be all that God wants you to be.
We know from the Bible that we are all born in sin. We are each of us born foolish and selfish. Sin is the way of every boy and every girl. But Jesus is THE WAY we should go. Parents can dedicate their child to their own sinful way by failing to teach them, or they can teach them the way of Jesus. The way of faith and love.
Are you grateful for parents who teach you Jesus’ way? I hope so.
Because of Jesus there is another way other than our selfish path.
With Jesus we can be dedicated to his path our whole life long.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Go around and list ways that your parents (and other adults) keep you on the way of Jesus. Let them know you are thankful for their loving training in your life.
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus, thank you for my mom and dad, grandparents, and teachers that have taught me your way. Help me to stick with you my whole life. Amen.
TLICfamily 