AP

Day 39: Children and parents – part 1

God has created the family and blessed it. Many people have said that raising a child is a task greater than any other, and surely, our parents influence us for good and ill more than any other earthly relationship.

The Bible speaks much about this relationship on both sides: children are to honour their father and mother (Deut. 5:16) and obey their parents in the Lord (Eph. 6:1). The Lord Jesus “was submissive” to Joseph and Mary, and “his mother treasured up all these things in her heart (Luke 2:51).” In these proverbs, there are many warnings against bringing sorrow to our parents by foolish choices (Prov. 17:21).

On the other side, fathers are not to provoke their “children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Eph. 6:4).” See what a wonderful example Timothy’s mother and grandmother were to him (2 Tim. 1:5)! Parents are to discipline their children. Do not “spare the rod.” Discipline is to be in love and to be consistent (Prov.13:24).

In parenting, neither smothering nor permissiveness is good. So too, mere moralism is never enough. We pray that the Lord will capture the hearts of our children and transform them for Him.

Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

– Prov. 13:24

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.

– Prov. 17:6

He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.

– Prov. 17:21

A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.

– Prov. 17:25

A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife’s quarrelling is a continual dripping of rain.

– Prov. 19:13

Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.

– Prov. 19:18

Father God, we pray for Your blessing and grace in all that we do. We are all sons or daughters and we ask to honour our father and mother. Let us show care and compassion to them.

For parents, we pray to bring up our children in Your discipline and instruction. Forgive us our many failures. Help us be neither weak nor overbearing. We pray not to spare the rod out of a false view of the child. Above all, may the Holy Spirit change the heart of the child to love and trust You.

Every parent is a model as every moment is on display. Let our children see us pray and read Your word; let them see what it is to honour You in every situation.

We pray this to the glory of Your Name in our families,

Amen.

– Graham Barnes