Proverbs 22: King James Bible
Train a Child – Daily Devotion of Proverbs chapter twenty two, Verse 6
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Daily Inspiration from This Verse – Train a Child
Here’s a verse that is put to practice every day, for everyone. That is, at least for those of us who have had children, or have been a child before.
Some may see this verse as having gone by the wayside, considering the way people have turned out as a whole. Seemingly godless, worldly, holding up man’s sinful nature, while casting away the things of the Lord.
But despite that outward appearance, this verse is being fulfilled by all. The problem is, the parent’s idea of the way a child should go.
To put it in a better light, we need to ask a question that the verse above doesn’t answer in any obvious manner. Train up a child in the way he should go as according to who?
These days, we have a buffet of different sources that are always willing to be the answer to this question. Because we believe in the Lord, and his authorship concerning his Word, we know that the verse above is referring to the way a child should go according to the Lord.
We know that’s what is being driven here, but it is one of those open ended truths that we always need to be careful of. Similar to the open ended truth that Christ said about having whatsoever we sayeth. He didn’t specify only the good things. Whatsoever is all inclusive, even if it’s to our own harm.
Some people believe that the way a child should go, is by whatever is dictated by an entity that has the appearance of knowing what it’s talking about, regardless of what the end result may be. Some people for example, believe that State involvement should be the deciding factor, concerning the way our children should be brought up.
Being told what is right and wrong according to the state, or otherwise the popular opinions of the day, never seem to run alongside any form a good Biblical upbringing. Why? Because the world wants nothing to do with people being brought up the way that God himself intended.
That’s the bottom line. So just as there are thousands of different religions, or whatever forms of Godlessness that is made available, there are growing numbers of different ways people can have their kids brought up driven away from the Father and his will for our own children.
Another thing…
Don’t forget who’s book we’re taking this verse from. There are many different ways the Father wants us to be like him. And this is one of them. He raises us up in the way we should go. We’ve got a compilation of 66 books called the Word of God, which he’s made available to us so that we will know the way we should go.
It’s our own free will that gets in his way.
Related New Testament Scripture
Matthew 19: King James Bible
13 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
1 Corinthians 13: King James Bible
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
Ephesians 6: King James Bible
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Prayer
Father,
Thank you for your Word, and all of its truth. Thank you for all of the promises and wonderful things that you’ve tucked into it. Forgive us Lord, when we’ve gotten in the way of your will for our lives, and thought we knew better, regardless of what it was about. Help us to understand the place you’d have us be in this world, and to shine as a light into the darkness, shining the light of Christ to those who need to see it. As your children, and ambassadors we ask this. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen
Question
Ever notice how it’s so much easier to train a child in the things of this world, than it is to train them up in the ways of the Lord?