The Jesus Bible Reading PlanSample

TRAIN A CHILD

Many Christian parents feel guilty when their children do not “turn out right,” and some of that guilt finds its root in this verse (traditionally rendered “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it”). The logic seems straightforward: If a parent has children who rebel, then that parent must not have raised them right. Yet, a proverb is not a prophecy or a promise. It is a general principle that God will use the discipline and instruction of the parents to start their children off in the way they should go, and the child will continue on that path, or return to it, when they are old. As such, it is a message of hope, even if the child seems to be rebelling from God at any given time.

Children will, as a general rule, take what they’ve learned and integrate it into their personal walk with God as they age. Fallen sinners can find confidence that, though their parenting may seem inadequate and flawed, God will often use this instruction to point children to the way of life everlasting. Also, parents can find hope that God can convict the rebellious and bring them to repentance in his time.

Jesus, I ask you to help parents with raising children, which is so difficult in today’s world. Remind those who are struggling that your Word never comes back void and that you never stop a good work once you’ve begun it. Amen.