Monday, October 24, 2011

Courageous Parenting: Psalm 19, part 2

Parents are called to raise their children in "the instruction of the Lord"(Ephesians 6:4).  Psalm 19:7-11 might be the best place to find a comprehensive description of what Jesus' instruction entails.
 
Psalm 19:7-11 
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; 
8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; 
9 the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. 
10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
 
So great parenting (which also applies to all discipleship) involves helping our children (and those we are helping to grow spiritually) to be able to see  the first half of the lines in this Psalm, and to experience the second half of each line in this Psalm.
 
We want our children to see that
The Law of the Lord is perfect
The testimony of the Lord is sure
The precepts of the Lord are right
The commandment of the Lord is pure
The fear of the Lord is clean
The rules of the Lord are true
 
We want our children to experience that
The law of the Lord revives the soul
The testimony of the Lord makes wise the simple
The precepts of the Lord rejoice the heart
The commandment of the Lord enlightens the eyes
The fear of the Lord endures forever
The rules of the Lord are righteous altogether
 
If we can help them grow into seeing and experiencing Psalm 19, they'll conclude that God's law is more to be desired that riches or pleasures.
They'll conclude that God's law provides both warning and blessing.  Blessing if it's followed, helpful alarms and warning if it' s not.
 
How do you help kids (and adults for that matter) see that God's word is perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, and true?
 
How do you help kids (and adults for that matter) see that God's word can revive the soul, make wise the simple, rejoice the heart, enlighten the eyes, endure forever, and is righteous altogether?
 
I would study each one of these lines and try to think of particular situations where I could point this out to the kids and teach them the appropriate verse that goes along with it.  I would determine where I've experienced these things in my own life and share those things with them.

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